Harry S. Truman aircraft conduct first flights against ISIL

December 29 marked the first time F/A-18E Super Hornet jets took off from U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) to conduct missions against ISIL in Syria.

The flights were carried out under Operation Inherent Resolve, which is the U.S. military operation for the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 joined French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91) in conducting combined combat operations in Iraq and Syria from the Arabian Gulf.

Rear Admiral Bret Batchelder, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, said: “Warfighting is the priority; that’s why we are here. Dual carrier operations with the French allow us to maximize our firepower and provide a unique opportunity to further progress against ISIL.”

Captain Fredrick Luchtman, commander, CVW 7 added: “We complement each other in that while one carrier is able to fly sorties in country to support OIR, the other carrier can conduct maintenance and prepare for the next day. The carriers can then swap, which allows us to put more sorties in country while we partner in this operation.”

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting OIR, strike operations in Iraq and Syria, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.

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