THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Aboard USS John C Stennis, July 1, 2009

GULF OF ALASKA (June 24, 2009) Weapons department personnel spell out "John Finn" on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) to commemorate the 100th birthday of Medal of Honor recipient Naval Aviation Ordnanceman John Finn. John C. Stennis is participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 26, 2009) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Death Rattlers of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323 flies over the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Reeves.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 23, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Dean Vanderwege, left, from Syracuse, N.Y., and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Gilbert Sandoval, from Los Angeles, watch an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 launch from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 28, 2009) Capt. Gordon Smith, right, Air Boss of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), directs an EA-6B Prowler from the "Yellow Jackets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 onto a bow catapult as Lt. Frank Crouse acts as a safety observer during the final departure of the squadrons four aircraft on board. The EA-6B Prowler will soon be decommissioned and VAQ 138 will begin their transition to the E/A-18G Growler, an electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 26, 2009) Sailors and Marines push an F/A-18C Hornet from assigned to the Death Rattlers of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323 into place after flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 23, 2009) Lt. Cmdr. Everett Alcorn, from Manassas, Va., signals a launch as an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 is catapulted from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 23, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Matthew Mancebo, from Verona, N.Y., guides an aircraft onto Catapult 1 for launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler.)

GULF OF ALASKA (June 26, 2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Reeves.)

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