U.S.
George H.W. Bush strike group back in US
Stars and Stripes
November 16, 2014
Family and friends wait for Sailors to disembark the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 15, 2014, after a nine-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (Shannon Barnwell/U.S. Navy)
Family and friends wait for Sailors to disembark the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 15, 2014, after a nine-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (Shannon Barnwell/U.S. Navy)
Sailors haul mooring lines for the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as the ship returns to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 15, 2014, after a nine-month deployment supporting Operations Active Endeavor, Inherent Resolve, and Enduring Freedom. (Magen F. Weatherwax/U.S. Navy)
Ensign Bridget Mall hugs her brother, Seaman Brian Niles, on the pier after disembarking the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun on Nov. 15, 2014. The ship is returning to Naval Station Norfolk after a nine-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (Shannon Barnwell/U.S. Navy)
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush man the rails as the ship pulls into Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 15, 2014. George H.W. Bush completed its second combat deployment, supporting Operations Active Endeavor, Inherent Resolve, and Enduring Freedom. (Brian Stephens/U.S. Navy)
Ships with the George H.W. Bush strike group returned home Saturday to their home ports in the United States after completing a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East, where it conducted the initial airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq.
The strike group, composed of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun and USS Roosevelt deployed Feb. 15 and has since traveled 73,400 nautical miles.
During its eventful deployment, the Bush group was part of a U.S. effort in March to reassure allies on edge over Russia’s troop incursion into Ukraine’s Crimean region. In the Middle East, the group supported both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. The Bush's fighter aircraft were the first to conduct airstrikes against Islamic militants in Iraq Aug 8.
The Bush conducted a total of 3,245 combat sorties, dropping a total of 232 precision guided bombs. Its strike group launched 47 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles during its deployment, a U.S. Navy release said. This was the second combat deployment for the Bush.
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