050926-N-8933S-005 Gulf of Mexico (Sept. 26, 2005) – A crew chief assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen (HM-14), monitors the loading of his MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter as it prepares to depart the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). HM-14 is in the process of flying assessment missions along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Rita's landfall. The Navy's involvement in the Hurricane Rita humanitarian assistance operations are led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Department of Defense. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Robert Jay Stratchko (RELEASED)
051001-N-1722M-355 San Diego (Oct. 1, 2005) – The Swedish diesel-powered attack submarine HMS Gotland transits through San Diego Harbor with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) following close behind during the “Sea and Air Parade” held as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2005. Fleet Week San Diego is a three-week tribute to Southern California-area military members and their families. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Michael Moriatis (RELEASED)
050907-N-9277A-001 China Lake, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2005) – A pilot assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9), looks out the canopy of his F/A-18F Super Hornet as he conducts a low pop-up maneuver above the south end of Panamint Valley near China Lake, Calif. The aircraft was performing tests on the Shared Reconnaissance Pod System (SHARPS) prior to fleet-wide dissemination. SHARPS is a multi-functioned reconnaissance pod, adaptable to several airborne platforms for tactical manned airborne reconnaissance. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Ian C. Anderson (RELEASED)