Re: your carrier proof. It’s an interesting picture. Can you please explain the significance of the proof?
I think a C2 is just a cargo aircraft, so couldn’t it be a routine resupply of the carrier?
Exactly that is what I think he’s saying. C-2s are the main shuttle between land and carrier for personnel/cargo. While most stuff will come from other ships to remain underway, repair parts and personnel transport from land is shuttled in on the ol C-2. If you see one heading out to see you can usually figure out where the carrier is.
Graphic shows the bird landing in the “water”.
Grumann model is known as supply/mail carrier craft.
Oh, there is a carrier out there. And various aircraft, with known signatures routinely take off and land from it all day long. We even track many of the ID numbers.
There are a number of tracking sites, although normally don’t get the actual fighters, but can pick up other aircraft and re-fuelers for those.
Historical context is important.
The problem is, we have cyclically (off and on), had a carrier out there, (positioned or along), The Southeast and Florida coast (often related to NAS Jacksonville), for decades. It’s not constant in time, but it is normal.