Petty Officer Schwandt signals a clear launch after an F-14 Tomcat roars over his head. Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Schwandt signals a clear launch after an F-14 Tomcat roars over his head from the port side catapult of the USS Independence (CV 62) as the ship operates in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 22, 1998. Independence and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 are on station in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. Schwandt, from Sacramento, Calif., is a Navy aviation boatswain's mate launch and recovery equipment operator. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.03 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 316605-D-RRC71-777.jpg Photo Gallery