TR Sets Sail with French Navy
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080724-07
Release Date: 7/24/2008 4:53:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Suits, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At sea (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed Naval Station Norfolk July 18 for a historic collaboration between the U.S. and French navies.
French E2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft assigned to the 4th Squadron began flight operations with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 aboard Roosevelt, marking the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. French Rafale fighter aircraft assigned to the 12th Squadron also joined.
"Operations with our friends and allies are the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy's current maritime strategy," said Capt. Ladd Wheeler, Roosevelt's commanding officer. "These combined operations will certainly pay dividends into the future as our navies continue to work together to increase global security."
Combined flight operations are scheduled to run through July 22.
For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.
