F/A-18 Hornet launches past sailors in the cat walk of the USS George Washington. A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet launches from the port catapult past sailors in the cat walk of the USS George Washington (CVN 73 as the ship steams in the Persian Gulf on March 8, 1998. The Washington battle group is operating 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. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.05 MB) Photo By: VIRIN: 844076-U-IJF84-666.jpg Photo Gallery