Original subtitles

\h\hNarrator: THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

IT’S THE BIG STICK OF AMERICA’S NAVY,

\hONLY CALLED OUT FOR JOBS THAT NEED MUSCLE.

Man: WHEN A CARRIER MOVES INTO \h\h\h\hAN AREA OF OPERATIONS,

YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

\h\h\hNarrator: ON BOARD, MORE THAN 70 SPECIALIZED AIRCRAFT.

WITH CREW TRAINED TO BRING \h\hTHE FIGHT TO ANYWHERE

ON THE PLANET.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Man: WE CAN MOVE INTO VERY \h\h\h\hCHALLENGING AREAS

OF THE GLOBE VERY RAPIDLY.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS DEPLOYMENT WILL BE TOUGH.

THEY MUST GET TO THE \hMIDDLE EAST FAST.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Woman: IT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES

IN THE WORLD TO OPERATE.

Narrator: IN THE BALANCE ...

Man: STAKES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH.

\h\h\hNarrator: NOTHING SHORT OF LIFE OR DEATH.

♪

\h\h\hAPRIL 2017, THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH CRUISES

DEEP IN THE ARABIAN GULF.

\h\h\hON DECK, THE FLIGHT CREW PREPS HER AIRCRAFT FOR COMBAT.

\h\h\hIT’S MONTH THREE OF THE CARRIER’S FIGHT AGAINST ISIS.

\h\hBY NOW, HER CREW MOVES LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE.

PUSHING THROUGH 14-HOUR WORKDAYS AND TEMPERATURES ON DECK

THAT CAN REACH 140 DEGREES.

[CREW MEMBERS YELL]

TWO LEVELS BELOW THE FLIGHT \h\hDECK, LCDR LUKE FARRELL

AND THREE OTHER FIGHTER PILOTS \h\hSUIT UP TO FLY INTO IRAQ.

IN THIS DEPLOYMENT, FARRELL \h\h\h\hAND THE OTHER PILOTS

SUPPORT ALLIED FORCES FIGHTING ON THE GROUND

INCLUDING SHOOTING DOWN AN ENEMY JET.

\hMan: THIS DEPLOYMENT IS PRETTY EPIC COMPARED TO MY OTHER ONES.

THIS IS MY FIFTH DEPLOYMENT.

Man: HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT, SIR.

Man: SEE YA AND THANK YOU.

WE’RE DOING, BY FAR, THE MOST \hREAL-WORLD COMBAT OPERATIONS

THAT I’VE EVER SEEN AND \hI THINK THAT’S TRUE OF

MOST OF THE GUYS ON THE BOAT.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FLYING INTO COMBAT, EACH DAY IS A CHALLENGE,

\hBUT ONE THING KEEPS THESE PILOTS GOING, THEIR MISSION.

Man: WHAT WE’RE DOING

IS SUPPORTING OPERATION \h\h\hINHERENT RESOLVE.

THERE’S AMERICAN FORCES \h\hAND COALITION FORCES

ON THE GROUND THAT NEED AIR SUPPORT FOR WHATEVER MISSION

\h\hTHEY’RE ACCOMPLISHING AND WE’RE THERE TO HELP THEM OUT.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE F-18 SUPER HORNETS WAIT ON DECK.

\h\h\h\hTHESE FULLY-LOADED FIGHTER JETS PERFORM MOST

OF THE COMBAT OPERATIONS.

MOMENT’S LATER ...

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

THEY HEAD INTO IRAQ.

♪

Man: THINGS ARE NOW GETTING \h\h\h\h\h\hVERY, VERY REAL.

\h\h\hEVERYBODY GETS VERY, VERY FOCUSED.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FOCUS DOESN’T GUARANTEE SUCCESS,

\h\h\hBUT THE BUSH AND HER PILOTS HAVE BEEN PREPARING

FOR THIS MISSION FOR \hA VERY LONG TIME.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

♪

\h\hONE MONTH EARLIER, THE BUSH SKIMS SLOWLY

ALONG THE GREEK COASTLINE.

[VOICE ON HEADSET] COPY. \h\hOKAY, I THINK THAT’S

MAKING SENSE NOW.

Narrator: TWENTY \hSTORIES HIGH,

MORE THAN THREE FOOTBALL \hFIELDS LONG, AND OVER

\h\h100,000 TONS, THE USS BUSH WAS MADE TO DO JUST ONE THING:

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hLAUNCH AND LAND US NAVY AIRCRAFT.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

HER MOST VALUABLE ASSET?

HER DECK,

4.5 ACRES OF SOVEREIGN

AND MOBILE AMERICAN TERRITORY.

Man: WE ARE A MOVING AIRPORT.

IT’S HOW WE PROJECT POWER IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

WE DON’T HAVE TO ASK \hFOR BASING RIGHTS

OR OVERFLIGHT PERMISSION, \h\h\h\h\hWE CAN MOVE INTO

VERY CHALLENGING AREAS OF \hTHE GLOBE VERY RAPIDLY.

Narrator: THE BUSH’S MOST POWERFUL WEAPON

IS HER AIR WING

\h\h\h\hMADE UP OF ALMOST 70 HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED AIRCRAFT.

♪

DEPLOYED WITH THE BUSH, CARRIER AIR WING EIGHT.

Man: I DON’T THINK THERE IS A \h\hCAPABILITY IN ANY COUNTRY

\h\hOR EVEN WITHIN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT RIVALS THE STRATEGIC EFFECT THAT THE

\h\hCARRIER AIR WING TEAM CAN BRING TO OUR DECISION-MAKERS.

WHEN THERE’S A CRISIS IN THE \hWORLD, THE FIRST QUESTION

THAT A PRESIDENT NORMALLY ASKS \hIS, "WHERE IS THE CARRIER?"

♪

\hNarrator: THIS DEPLOYMENT TAKES THE BUSH FROM HER HOME

IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

AND NOW HERE IN THE \hMEDITERRANEAN SEA.

\h\hSHE MUST TRAIN HERE FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE MOVING ON.

Man: WE’RE GONNA BE IN \h\hTHE ARABIAN GULF.

OUR PRIMARY MISSION RIGHT NOW IS TO CONDUCT STRIKES

IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION \h\h\h\hINHERENT RESOLVE

\h\h\hAND DESTROY ISIS FORCES ON THE GROUND.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE ARABIAN GULF IS FAMILIAR TERRITORY.

\h\hTHREE YEARS AGO, THE BUSH WAS ON HER WAY HOME

FROM A SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT \h\h\h\h\hWHEN SHE GOT WORD

THAT ISIS TERRITORY WAS \h\hBEGINNING TO EXPAND.

[HORN HONKS]

Man: THEY’RE BEYOND JUST \h\h\hA TERRORIST GROUP.

\h\h\h\hOH, THIS IS BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE’VE SEEN,

SO WE MUST PREPARE \hFOR EVERYTHING.

Man: ISIS STARTED THEIR SWEEP FROM NORTHERN IRAQ

DOWN TO SOUTHERN IRAQ.

\h\hTHEY WERE MOVING ALMOST UNABATED FROM NORTH TO SOUTH

\h\h\h\hAND WAS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF BAGHDAD.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE US NEEDED TO REACT FAST.

\h\hPRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA KNEW THE BUSH WAS HIS BEST SOLUTION.

[CREW CHATTERS]

\hIT TOOK THE BUSH AND HER AIR WING,

\hJUST 30 HOURS TO ADJUST HER PLANS.

Man: THE CARRIER TURNED AROUND AND THE AIR WING TURNED AROUND

AND WENT BACK UP TO THE \hNORTHERN ARABIAN GULF.

WE CONDUCTED THE FIRST STRIKES AGAINST ISIS.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\h\hAND THEY WERE THE REASON THAT ISIS STOPPED

AND DID NOT MOVE INTO BAGHDAD.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\hNarrator: FOR 10 FULL DAYS, THE BUSH

\h\h\hAND CARRIER AIR WING EIGHT CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF THE FIGHT.

[BOMB EXPLODES]

President Obama: FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, AMERICAN FORCES HAVE

SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED \hTARGETED AIRSTRIKES

\hTO PREVENT TERRORIST FORCES FROM ADVANCING

AND TO PROTECT AMERICAN \h\h\h\hCIVILIANS THERE.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW THE IRAQIS ARE ON THE VERGE OF

TAKING TERRITORY BACK FOR GOOD,

BUT THEY NEED AIR \hPOWER TO DO IT.

\h\hSO THE BUSH AND HER AIR WING ARE RETURNING,

DETERMINED TO HELP GROUND \h\hTROOPS FINISH THE JOB.

Man: THERE ARE CITIES WHERE \hISIS STILL HAS A FOOTHOLD.

\h\hSO WE’LL DEVELOP PLANS TO SUPPORT THOSE GROUND MOVEMENTS

IN THOSE THREE AREAS.

\h\hNarrator: THE ONLY CATCH: AIR WING PILOTS

HAVEN’T SEEN COMBAT SINCE \h\h\hTHAT LAST DEPLOYMENT

THREE YEARS AGO.

Man: I WISH FLYING AN AIRPLANE \h\h\hWAS LIKE RIDING A BIKE,

BUT IT’S NOT.

ANYONE WILL TELL YOU THAT, \hIN THIS BUSINESS IF YOU

TAKE TIME OFF, THOSE \h\hSKILLS ATROPHY.

SO THE FIRST THING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER DOES

WHEN IT GETS UNDERWAY IS WE BRING OUR PILOTS

\hAND OUR AIRCRAFT OUT AND WE RE-CERTIFY THOSE FOLKS

TO CONDUCT CARRIER OPERATIONS.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FLIGHT OPERATIONS ON A CARRIER

ARE NOTORIOUSLY TOUGH.

GETTING ON AND OFF A SHIP \hIS THE DEFINITIVE SKILL

THAT SETS NAVAL AVIATORS \hAPART FROM ALL OTHERS.

THE REASON: THE RUNWAY.

ON LAND, PILOTS HAVE MORE THAN 2,000 FEET

TO TAKE OFF AND LAND.

ON A CARRIER, THEY \h\hHAVE JUST 300.

Man: NAVAL AVIATION’S \hPRETTY UNFORGIVING.

\hIF YOU’RE NOT FOCUSED AND YOU’RE NOT PREPARED,

THEN YOU’RE NOT GONNA BE DOING THIS BUSINESS

FOR VERY LONG.

Narrator: TO TAKE OFF ON SUCH A SHORT DECK,

\h\h\h\hPILOTS HAVE TO GENERATE EXTRA SPEED.

THE SOLUTION: A CATAPULT.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hA CAT SHOT CAN LAUNCH A 60,000-POUND AIRCRAFT

\hFROM 0 TO 150 MILES PER HOUR IN JUST TWO SECONDS.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Man: IT’S KIND OF LIKE BEING \h\h\h\h\hSHOT OUT OF A GUN.

IT WAKES YOU UP, IT GETS \hYOUR ADRENALINE GOING

AND IT’S PRETTY EXCITING.

\h\hNarrator: TAKING OFF FROM A CARRIER IS HARD,

BUT LANDING IS EVEN TOUGHER.

Man: THE HARDEST PART OF THE \h\h\hMISSION IS COMING BACK

AND LANDING.

YOU’VE GOT A VERY LONG FLIGHT \h\h\hTO GET BACK TO THE BOAT

AND YOU’RE VERY TIRED, \h\hYOU’RE DEHYDRATED,

YOU’VE BEEN SITTING IN AN EJECTION SEAT,

WHICH IS NOT A LA-Z-BOY,

SO YOUR BODY IS STARTING \h\hTO GET PRETTY SORE.

\hSO A LOT OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS ON MY LANDING

AND MY ABILITY TO GET ABOARD \h\hSAFELY BACK ON THE BOAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: COMPLICATING THE MATTER,

THE FLIGHT DECK, IT DOESN’T STAY STILL.

\h\h\hIT HEAVES AND SWAYS WITH THE SEA.

IN THE SECONDS BEFORE TOUCHDOWN,

\h\hPILOTS HAVE TO MAKE COUNTLESS SMALL CHANGES

TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TO LINE UP PERFECTLY WITH THE DECK.

\hMan: IT REQUIRES A LOT OF FOCUS BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A

SEVEN AND A HALF HOUR MISSION AND THE MISSION WAS FANTASTIC,

BUT IF YOU COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING DANGEROUS,

IT’S NOT A GOOD WAY \h\hTO END A FLIGHT.

\h\h\hNarrator: AN F-18 TYPICALLY HITS THE DECK

AT OVER 150 MILES AN HOUR.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

TO SLOW DOWN, PILOTS RELY ON A SYSTEM OF ARRESTING WIRES.

CATCHING ONE IS CALLED A TRAP.

\hMan: WE HAVE THREE WIRES WE CAN CATCH.

WHEN OUR HOOK GRABS ONE OF THOSE WIRES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT FEEDS OUT THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF CABLE

TO STOP YOU BEFORE YOU \hWOULD GO OFF THE END

OF THE LANDING AREA.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hNarrator: IT TAKES YEARS TO BECOME A NAVAL AVIATOR.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

THE GOOD ONES MAKE IT LOOK EASY.

Man: IT LOOKS GRACEFUL \hAND IT’S BEAUTIFUL,

BUT WHAT YOU DON’T SEE \hIS ALL THE PRACTICE

AND REPETITION THAT GOES INTO \h\hMAKING THAT LOOK THAT WAY.

♪

IT’S TOUGH AND IT REQUIRES \h\hLOTS OF REPS AND SETS.

\h\hNarrator: AS THE BUSH CHARGES TOWARD

THE ARABIAN GULF, HER AIR WING TRAINS HARD,

AIMING TO SHAKE OFF THE COBWEBS

AND MAKE MUSCLE MEMORY STRONG.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

IN COMBAT, THEY HAVE TO REACT, NOT THINK.

Man: THEY HAVE TO STRIVE TO \h\h\hBE PERFECT EVERY TIME.

\hTHERE’S NOT ROOM FOR IMPERFECTION.

\h\h\hNarrator: AND IN JUST A FEW DAYS,

\h\hTHEY’LL BE TESTING THEIR SKILLS OVER A HOSTILE ENEMY

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

IN THE ARABIAN GULF.

[JET ENGINES ROAR]

♪

THE USS BUSH STEAMS TOWARD \h\hTHE MIDDLE EAST FOR A

SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT.

\h\h\hHER MISSION: TO HELP GROUND TROOPS DEFEAT ISIS.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

ON THE FLIGHT DECK, THE \hAIR WING WORKS TO KEEP

THEIR SKILLS FRESH AND SHARP.

Man: WE START FLIGHT OPERATIONS EARLY IN THE MORNING

AND WE GO ’TIL LATE \h\hIN THE EVENING,

OFTENTIMES AROUND MIDNIGHT.

THE TRAINING IS INTENSE.

[FLIGHT CREW CHATTERS]

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MOST CHALLENGING TRAINING RUNS

HAPPEN AT NIGHT.

\h\hFOR SECURITY, THE BUSH KEEPS HER DECK LIGHTS LOW.

\h\h\hTHE DECK CREW MUST USE EXTRA CAUTION AS THEY WORK.

\h\h\hMan: THE FLIGHT DECK IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT

\hWITH PROPS AND ROTORS AND JET ENGINES TURNING.

YOU KNOW, GUYS TAKING CAT \h\hSHOTS AND GUYS LANDING

\hAND PEOPLE WALKING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Narrator: THE CREW USES GLOW STICKS TO IDENTIFY

THEIR POSITIONS AND \hDIRECT THE PLANES.

♪

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

SOME NIGHTS, THE MOON PROVIDES EXTRA LIGHT.

TONIGHT, IT’S LIKE SHOOTING \h\h\hOFF INTO A BLACK HOLE,

EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHT OF THE AFTERBURNER.

\h\hTHEN, THERE’S ALSO THE NIGHTTIME LANDING.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hFROM THE COCKPIT OF AN F-18 SUPER HORNET,

THE DECK LOOKS LIKE THIS.

Man: WHEN YOU’RE COMING BACK \h\hTO AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT, \h\h\hIT IS OFTENTIMES

\h\h\hTHE MOST INTENSE PORTION OF THE FLIGHT,

AND THAT INCLUDES \hCOMBAT FLIGHTS.

Narrator: AS THE BUSH CRUISES \h\hTHROUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN,

FARRELL AND THE OTHER AIR WING PILOTS TRAIN

AROUND THE CLOCK.

Man: IT’S LIKE BILL MURRAY \h\h\h\hIN GROUNDHOG DAY.

\hYOU SLAP YOUR ALARM, AND HEAR THAT GO OFF,

\hAND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING

YOU DID YESTERDAY.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\h\hNarrator: SOON IT WILL BECOME MORE

THAN JUST TRAINING RUNS.

[GUN FIRE]

ON LAND, IRAQI TROOPS \hALLIED WITH AMERICA

FIGHT ISIS FOR CONTROL \h\hOF THEIR COUNTRY.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

THEY URGENTLY NEED \hTHE BUSH’S HELP.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

ONCE THE SHIP REACHES \h\hTHE ARABIAN GULF,

AIR OPERATIONS WILL \hBECOME VERY REAL.

BUT FIRST, THE BUSH MUST NAVIGATE A MAJOR HURDLE:

THE SUEZ CANAL.

THE SUEZ CANAL IS \hA VITAL SHORTCUT

BETWEEN THE MEDITERRANEAN \h\h\h\h\hAND THE RED SEA.

ON ONE SIDE, MAINLAND EGYPT.

ON THE OTHER, THE \hSINAI PENINSULA.

\h\h\hTHIS 23,000 SQUARE MILE DESERT IS KNOWN AS

EGYPT’S WILD WEST.

\hEGYPT’S CHAOS BEGAN IN 2011 WITH THE OVERTHROW

OF PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK.

SINCE THEN, CONCERNS ABOUT \h\hSAFETY ALONG THE CANAL

HAVE ESCALATED AND WITH GOOD REASON.

IN 2013, MILITANTS ATTACKED \h\h\hSHIPS IN THE WATERWAY

WITH ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES.

TWICE.

♪

THE BUSH IS A HIGH-VALUE TARGET,

INCLUDING HER AIR WING, \h\hSHE HAS ASSETS WORTH

\h\h\hOVER EIGHT AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS.

AT SEA, HER HORNETS \hAND SUPER HORNETS

ARE A KEY PART OF HER DEFENSE.

BUT DURING THE TRANSIT, THEY HAVE TO STAND DOWN.

Man: WHAT WE CANNOT DO

IS EXECUTE FIXED WING \h\hFLIGHT OPERATIONS,

SO WE CAN’T LAUNCH F-18S.

WE HAVE TO RELY UPON SECURITY \h\hFROM THE LOCAL EGYPTIANS.

\hNarrator: THE CANAL GENERATES FIVE BILLION DOLLARS OF REVENUE

\h\h\hFOR THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT EVERY YEAR.

THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST \h\h\h\hIN KEEPING IT SAFE.

\hAS THE BUSH GOES THROUGH THE CANAL,

SHE’LL HAVE TO COUNT ON \hTHE EGYPTIAN MILITARY

\h\hTO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR THE ENTIRE 125 MILES.

\h\hIF SOMEONE GETS PAST THE EGYPTIANS,

THE BUSH’S HELICOPTERS \hARE ALLOWED TO FLY.

\hTHEY’LL BE ONE OF HER FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE.

Man: THEY CAN PROTECT US IN THE CASE OF A NATION SENDING OUT

ONE OF IT’S FIGHTER AIRCRAFT \hTO ANTAGONIZE THE CARRIER,

OR DO ILL WILL AGAINST IT, \hOR POTENTIALLY THE CASE

\h\hOF A TERRORIST FLYING A LIGHT CIVIL WITH MALINTENT.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE BUSH TRAVELS WITH TWO KINDS OF

SIKORSKY SEAHAWKS.

THE MH-60 SIERRAS ARE FLOWN \h\hBY THE TRIDENT SQUADRON.

\h\h\h\hTHE MH-60 ROMEOS BELONG TO THE SPARTANS.

[HELICOPTER PROPELLER SPINS]

EACH SEAHAWK COMES WITH \h\hEVERYTHING IT NEEDS

TO CONFRONT AN ENEMY.

Man: ABOARD IS THE M240 DELTA, \h\hA CREW-SERVED MACHINE GUN.

IT’S A 7.62 MACHINE GUN THAT \hPROVIDES A SMALLER-CALIBER

DEFENSIVE SOLUTION.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

\h\hBEHIND IT IN THE DOOR, IS THE GAU-21 .50 CALIBER

MACHINE GUN, VERY \hPOWERFUL WEAPON.

IT GIVES US AN ENHANCED REACH \hIN THE MARITIME ENVIRONMENT,

OR REALLY IN ANY ENVIRONMENT.

\hNarrator: TWO DAYS BEFORE THE TRANSIT,

THE HELICOPTERS TAKE A SPIN \hOUT OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN

\hON A MISSION TO TEST THEIR WEAPONS

ON A SMALL, UNMANNED SKIFF.

Man: THIS IS IN PREPARATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR OUR ENTRY

INTO THE CENTRAL ARABIAN GULF,

JUST KIND OF BASED ON THE THREAT

THAT WE’RE EXPECTING \h\h\hTO SEE THERE.

\hNarrator: SMALL, FAST-MOVING BOATS

ARE ONE OF THE CANAL’S \h\h\hBIGGEST DANGERS.

TODAY, HELO PILOTS CIRCLE, \hTEEING UP FOR THE KILL.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

Man: WE’RE ABLE TO SHOOT \h\hAND ACTUALLY ENGAGE

\hAND DESTROY IT AS IT COMES IN SO WE CAN SEE

THE EFFECTIVENESS \hOF OUR WEAPONS,

ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT’S \hLIKE WHEN OUR ROUNDS

IMPACT THE TARGET WHERE WE \hNEED TO HIT ON THAT BOAT

TO GET THE BEST EFFECTS.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

\hWE WANT TO TRAIN AND JUST MAKE SURE

\hWE’RE KIND OF HONING THE EDGE OF THE KNIFE

BEFORE WE GET INTO \hTHE COMBAT AREA.

[HELICOPTER PROPELLER SPINS]

\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER THE HELICOPTERS LAND,

\hIT’S TIME FOR THE BUSH HERSELF TO TAKE A SHOT.

SHE HAS ONE MORE WEAPON ON BOARD,

\hA CLOSE-IN WEAPONS SYSTEM, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE CWIS.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

THIS 20 MILLIMETER VULCAN \h\h\hCANNON LIVES INSIDE

\h\hA SWIVELING BASE ALMOST 15 FEET HIGH.

IN THE TOP OF ITS HOUSING, THE CWIS HAS TWO ANTENNAS.

\hTHEY PICK UP THE INCOMING THREAT AND DIRECT ITS FIRE.

IN ACTION, IT SPITS OUT \h4,500 ROUNDS A MINUTE,

\hEACH BULLET TWICE AS BIG AS THE STANDARD US MACHINE GUN’S.

\h\h\hIT’S CAPABLE OF SHOOTING TARGETS UP TO FIVE MILES AWAY.

A DAY BEFORE THE BUSH \h\hREACHES THE SUEZ,

\h\hHER CREW GIVES THE CWIS ONE LAST TUNE-UP.

\hDURING THE TRANSIT, IT WILL BE THE BUSH’S

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.

Woman: EVERYONE KNOWS WE \h\h\h\h\hARE GOING INTO

A POTENTIALLY-HOSTILE \h\h\h\h\hENVIRONMENT.

ONCE WE’RE IN THE SUEZ, WE ARE ALL HEADS-UP, ON GAME,

AND JUST OBSERVING EVERYTHING AROUND.

Man: ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TRY \h\h\hAND ATTACK THE CARRIER,

THEY’RE GONNA HAVE A PRETTY ROUGH TIME GETTING THROUGH.

\h\h\hWE CAN PUT A LOT OF ORDINANCE DOWN REAL FAST.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

WE’RE READY FOR ANYTHING.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SAILORS MAY FEEL READY,

\hBUT THE QUESTION IS, ARE THEY READY ENOUGH?

Man: THERE’S ALWAYS THE THING \hTHAT YOU DIDN’T THINK ABOUT.

\hTHERE’S ALWAYS A SITUATION THAT YOU DIDN’T SEE COMING.

\h\hTHERE’S A SAYING IN OUR BUSINESS, WHICH IS,

"THE ENEMY GETS A VOTE."

\hNarrator: READY OR NOT, IT’S TIME.

♪

HOURS AWAY FROM THE SUEZ CANAL,

NAVIGATORS ON THE \hUSS BUSH REVIEW

THEIR PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT.

Man: IT TAKES MONTHS OF \hPLANNING TO MAKE SURE

\h\h\h\hTHAT WE’RE ABLE TO TRANSIT WITHOUT ANY DANGER

TO THE SHIPS.

Man: STARTING AT WAYPOINT SEVEN, WE’RE AT 16 KNOTS,

WE’LL BE 16 KNOTS \hALL THE WAY IN.

Man: OKAY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT TRACKS \h\hFROM OTHER CARRIERS

\h\hTHAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY GONE THERE TO MAKE SURE

\hTHAT WE STAY IN SAFE WATER THE WHOLE TIME.

\h\hNarrator: THE BUSH IS OVER 250 FEET WIDE

\hAND WILL TAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE CANAL.

A TERRORIST SHIPPING VESSEL COULD EASILY

BLOCK HER PASSAGE.

Man: IT’S ALWAYS PRETTY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTRESSFUL

TRAINING THE BRIDGE TEAMS

\hTO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION

THAT MAY COME UP.

Man: WE’LL DEVELOP PLANS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK COULD HAPPEN.

\h\h\hIT GOES BACK TO BUILDING CONTINGENCIES

\hOR COURSES OF ACTION THAT INCLUDE MOST LIKELY THREAT,

AS WELL AS A MOST DANGEROUS THREAT,

SO WE PLAN FOR A MOST \h\hDANGEROUS THREAT.

♪

Narrator: FINALLY, \hJUST AFTER DAWN,

THE BUSH EASES INTO THE CANAL.

♪

ON DECK, HER AIRCRAFT SIT \hTOWARD HER CENTER LINE.

THEIR AIR INTAKES AND \hCANOPIES ARE COVERED

TO PREVENT DAMAGE SHOULD \h\hA SANDSTORM BLOW UP.

ON LAND, THE EGYPTIAN MILITARY \h\h\hPROVIDES A WATCHFUL EYE.

Man: I COULD SEE THAT \h\hTHE EGYPTIAN ARMY

\h\hWAS PRECEDING US AS WE WENT DOWN THE SUEZ CANAL.

AND THEN, AIRBORNE WISE, \hTHE EGYPTIAN AIR FORCE

WAS PROVIDING PROTECTION \h\h\h\hAIRBORNE FOR US.

\hNarrator: ABOVE DECK, IT’S TENSE.

♪

BELOW DECK, IT’S JUST \hANOTHER DAY AT SEA.

THERE ARE MEALS TO SERVE,

LAUNDRY TO DO,

AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN.

♪

ON THE FLIGHT DECK, THE AIR CREW MARVELS AT THE SCENERY,

WELCOMING THE RARE DAY OFF.

Man: WELL WHAT DOES THE AIR WING THEN DO ON A DAY LIKE THAT?

WELL, MAYBE SIGHT-SEE \h\h\h\hA LITTLE BIT,

BECAUSE I THINK IT’S \hPRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

Man: DEFINITELY INTERESTING \hSEEING LAND ON BOTH SIDES.

NOT SOMETHING WE SEE \hEVERYDAY OUT HERE.

♪

\hNarrator: AT SEA, THE BUSH CAN CRUISE

UP TO 34 MILES PER HOUR.

IN THE CANAL, SHE’S \hLIMITED TO EIGHT.

\h\h\hGOING FASTER WOULD CAUSE HER WAKE TO ERODE

THE CANAL’S BANKS.

♪

HALFWAY THROUGH THE 14 HOUR TRIP, A LANDMARK,

\h\h\h\h\hFREEDOM BRIDGE CONNECTING EGYPT PROPER

TO THE SINAI PENINSULA.

\hSECURITY CONCERNS KEPT IT CLOSED FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.

AT 223 FEET ABOVE THE WATER \h\hLINE, THE BRIDGE DWARFS

EVEN THE MIGHTY CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h♪ CREW CHEERING

WHILE THE AIR WING ENJOYS THE SIGHTS,

\h\h\hTHE CREW ON THE BRIDGE KEEPS ITS FOCUS

ON WHAT CAN GO WRONG.

Woman: STEADY ON COURSE \h\h\h\h\hONE-SIX-ZERO.

\h\hCHECKING COURSE ONE-FIVE-SEVEN NOW.

Man: WE MAY GET LULLED INTO A \hSENSE OF CALM ON THE BRIDGE

\h\hWHEN WE KNOW THE SHIP’S HANDLING WELL

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL,

BUT WE DON’T LET OUR GUARD DOWN

UNTIL WELL AFTER THE TRANSIT.

\hMan: LET’S STAY ON COURSE ONE-SIX-ZERO.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FOURTEEN HOURS LATER,

THE BUSH LEAVES THE SUEZ BEHIND,

BUT GETTING THROUGH THE CANAL \h\hIS ONLY HALF THE JOURNEY.

TO REACH THE ARABIAN GULF, THE BUSH STILL HAS TO PASS

\h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE TROUBLED WATERS OF THE BAB-EL-MANDEB

AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

IT’S A ROLL CALL OF \hTROUBLED NATIONS;

YEMEN, SOMALIA, IRAN, THE BUSH IS NO LONGER

SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

ONE LEVEL BELOW THE FLIGHT DECK,

\h\h\h\hADMIRAL KENNETH WHITESELL AND HIS STAFF

\h\hOF INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS KEEP WATCH

\hIN THE TACTICAL FLAG COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

Man: BRAVO, THIS IS GOLF BRAVO.

ROGER, BREAK PHILIPPINE SEA, \hTHIS IS GOLF BRAVO, OVER.

♪

\h\hNarrator: THIS TOP SECRET ROOM IS

\h\h\hTHE BUSH’S NERVE CENTER AND IT’S BRAIN.

\h\h\hTWELVE 60-INCH MONITORS RECEIVE A NEARLY-UNINTERRUPTED

\h\hFLOW OF CLASSIFIED DATA FROM AN AREA ALMOST AS LARGE

AS THE UNITED STATES.

♪

\hAS THE BUSH POWERS THROUGH THE STRAITS,

THE ADMIRAL AND HIS COMMAND \h\hTEAM STAY ON HIGH ALERT.

Woman: RIGHT NOW WE’RE TRAVELING THROUGH THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ.

WE’RE CURRENTLY APPROACHING \h\hTHE MOST CRITICAL POINT

\hWHERE WE ARE THE CLOSEST TO BOTH IRAN AND TO OMAN.

AND SO IT’S VERY IMPORTANT \h\h\hFOR US TO MAKE SURE

WE KEEP THE FORCE SAFE.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE INTELLIGENCE TEAM KNOWS

\hTHAT THE STRAITS ARE NOTORIOUSLY DANGEROUS.

♪

THREE MONTHS AGO, IRANIAN \h\h\h\hVESSELS CHALLENGED

AN AMERICAN DESTROYER, AN INCIDENT THAT WEIGHS HEAVY

ON THE ADMIRAL AND HIS TEAM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THIS ROOM, CONCENTRATION IS INTENSE.

\h\hOVER THE NEXT SIX HOURS, THE SAILORS HERE MUST TRACK

ANYTHING IN THE AREA THAT MOVES.

Woman: IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP THE SAFETY OF THE FORCE,

SO IF A THREAT DOES APPEAR, WE CAN DEFEND APPROPRIATELY.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FINALLY, THE BUSH REACHES THE ARABIAN GULF

\h\h\hAND SETTLES INTO INTERNATIONAL WATERS.

\h\hFOR IRAQI TROOPS, THE SHIP’S ARRIVAL IS

NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.

\h\hTHEY’RE CAUGHT IN A BITTER FIGHT FOR MOSUL,

IRAQ’S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

MOSUL HAS BEEN UNDER ISIS \h\hRULE FOR THREE YEARS.

TAKING IT BACK WOULD BE A MAJOR WIN FOR IRAQI FORCES

AND THE US AIR POWER THAT SUPPORTS THEM.

\hMan: ISIS STILL HAS A FOOTHOLD, BUT THAT NOOSE

\hIS DRAWING SIGNIFICANTLY TIGHTER AROUND THEIR NECK.

WE’RE PROVIDING AIR STRIKES

\hTO SUPPORT THOSE GROUND MOVEMENTS.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT BEFORE THE BUSH CAN HELP THE GROUND TROOPS,

\h\h\hSHE NEEDS TO DO ONE LAST THING, GET FUEL FOR HER JETS.

Man: OF COURSE WE DON’T, AS A \h\h\hNUCLEAR-POWERED VESSEL,

WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE ON FUEL FOR OUR SHIP,

BUT WE DO TAKE JET FUEL.

\h\hDURING DEPLOYMENT, WE TAKE ABOUT 750,000 GALLONS

OF JET FUEL A WEEK.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S CALLED A REPLENISHMENT AT SEA, OR A RAS.

A SUPPLY SHIP APPROACHES THE CARRIER AND SAILS ALONGSIDE.

\hMOVING INTO PLACE IS A PRECISION OPERATION.

THE SUPPLY SHIP MUST \hTRAVEL AT EXACTLY

THE SAME SPEED AS THE CARRIER.

[ROCKET FIRES]

\h\hTHE BUSH FIRES A LINE ACROSS TO THE SUPPLY SHIP,

CREATING A TENSION WIRE \hTO LINK THE TWO SHIPS.

[CREW CHATTER]

ON THE BRIDGE, THE NAVIGATION \h\h\hTEAM CAREFULLY MONITORS

THE PROCEDURE.

♪

THE SLIGHTEST STEERING ERROR \h\hCOULD CAUSE A COLLISION.

Man: RIGHT NOW, WE ARE \hABOUT 170 FEET AWAY

\hAND THAT’S KIND OF THE SWEET SPOT, SO WE TRY TO TARGET 170,

\h\h\hAS CLOSE TO 160 IS FINE, OUT TO 180 IS FINE

AND THEN THAT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN GOOD SAFE MARGIN,

TENSION BETWEEN THE WIRES.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ONCE THE TENSION WIRE IS ESTABLISHED,

\h\h\hCREWS USE IT TO SNAKE A TRANSFER HOSE

\h\hFROM THE SUPPLY SHIP TO THE CARRIER.

[METALLIC CLANK]

THE NOZZLE LOCKS IN AND \h\hFUEL BEGINS TO FLOW.

\h\hTHE TWO SHIPS WILL STAY TETHERED FOR THE FOUR HOURS

IT TAKES TO COMPLETE \h\h\hTHE TRANSFER.

Man: RIGHT NOW WE’RE CONNECTED, ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY CONNECTED,

IN FOUR PLACES.

\h\h\hSO TODAY, WE’LL TAKE ON ABOUT A MILLION AND A QUARTER

GALLONS OF JET FUEL.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FINALLY, THE REFUELING IS COMPLETE

\hAND THE SHIP IS READY FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE TRIP.

♪

\h\h\hON THE HANGAR DECK, MAINTAINERS GET THE PLANES

READY FOR BATTLE.

\h\h\hBELOW DECK, LCDR LUKE FARRELL AND THE F-18 PILOTS

\h\hOF THE BLACKLIONS SQUADRON ASSEMBLE FOR THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

Man: WHAT’S UP, SENIOR?

Man: HEY, SIR, HOW ARE YOU?

Man: GOOD, 204?

Man: YES, SIR.

Man: EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

Man: AWESOME.

\h\h\hNarrator: TOMORROW, THE BUSH FACES HER NEXT CHALLENGE:

COMBAT.

\h2017, THE ARABIAN GULF. THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH

CRUISES 500 MILES OFF \h\hTHE COAST OF IRAQ.

Woman: WE WORK HARD, MAKE SURE \h\h\h\hYOU GUYS ALL HAVE ...

Narrator: THREE LEVELS BELOW THE FLIGHT DECK,

FOUR F-18 SUPER HORNET PILOTS \hFROM THE BLACKLIONS SQUADRON

GET BRIEFED ON THEIR MISSION.

Woman: FOR THE AIRPLANE, AS FAR AS OUR EXPECTED LAUNCH TIME ...

Narrator: IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS, THEY FLY INTO IRAQ.

LCDR ASHLEY PELZEK, \hDOES THE BRIEFING.

\hALL FOUR PILOTS FLYING THE MISSION

NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

Man: WE TALK ABOUT THE MISSION, HOW WE’RE GOING TO

\hINGRESS INTO THE COUNTRY AND THEN THE ACTUAL COMBAT FLIGHT.

\h\hIT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF

\h\h\h\hBEFORE WE’RE IN THE AIRPLANE SO THAT IF ANYTHING

ABNORMAL HAPPENS, WE KIND \hOF KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

\h\h\hNarrator: PELZEK AND LCDR LUKE FARRELL,

WILL FLY TOGETHER IN ONE F-18 SUPERSONIC FIGHTER.

\hLIEUTENANTS PATRICK CLARK AND STEVE SASSO

WILL FOLLOW BEHIND.

THEIR MISSION, TO DESTROY \h\h\hISIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

TODAY’S TARGET, A CEMENT \h\hFACTORY USED TO FUND

THEIR TERRORIST WAR.

Woman: THERE ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE

\h\hTHAT THEY CAN GAIN MORE FINANCIAL ASSETS

IN ORDER TO INCREASE \h\hTHEIR STRENGTH.

\h\h\hSO WE’RE LOOKING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING

THOSE FINANCIAL GAINS.

\h\hYOU’RE ALWAYS KIND OF GOING TO TRY TO BREAK DOWN

THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THAT’S MONEY,

FOOD, WATER, WEAPONS CACHES, \h\h\hWEAPONS CAPABILITIES,

AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN \h\hA CONSTANT THROUGHOUT

\hANY KIND OF BATTLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

♪

\h\hNarrator: WHILE THE F-18 PILOTS FINE TUNE THEIR PLAN,

THE BUSH’S DECK CREW IS ALREADY IN ACTION

LOADING UP THE JETS \h\hWITH ORDINANCE.

Man: WE DO CARRY A VARIETY OF \h\h\hWEAPONS, DIFFERENT SIZES

\hAND THOSE DIFFERENT SIZES GIVE US OPTIONS.

WE HAVE SMALLER BOMBS FOR TARGETS THAT, POTENTIALLY,

\hARE SURROUNDED BY THINGS WE DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT,

\h\h\hIF WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT,

\h\hAND THERE’S NOTHING AROUND AND IT’S A TARGET

THAT MAY TAKE A BIG \h\hBOMB TO DESTROY,

THEN WE HAVE A BIG BOMB WITH US THAT WE CAN USE.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: TAKING OUT THE CEMENT FACTORY REQUIRES

TWO 2,000 POUNDERS.

\hEACH ONE LEAVES A CRATER 50 FEET WIDE.

\hWoman: OUR SQUADRON MOTTO HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO DELIVER ORDINANCE

\h\hON TARGET, ON TIME, WITH THE CORRECT FUSING.

WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, \h\h\hSO EVEN WHEN THERE’S

\hNO ONE ON THE GROUND THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE AFFECTED,

\h\hWE STILL STRESS THAT IMPORTANCE OF ACHIEVING

AS CLOSE TO PERFECT AS YOU CAN WITH THOSE WEAPONS DELIVERIES

AS WELL AS THEIR IMPACTS.

Narrator: BELOW DECK, THE AVIATORS’ PRE-GAME RITUAL

IS ALMOST DONE.

Woman: ABOUT AN HOUR AND 10 \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMINUTES OR SO

PRIOR TO OUR FLIGHT,

WE WILL GO GET DRESSED, PUT \hON ALL OF OUR FLIGHT GEAR,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN GET ALL THE SPECIFIC THINGS WE MIGHT NEED

\h\hIF WE END UP, GOD FORBID, ON THE GROUND.

Man: AFTER THAT, WE’RE \h\h\h\hREADY TO WALK.

THEN WE WALK UP TO \hTHE FLIGHT DECK,

DO OUR PRE-FLIGHT AND GO FROM THERE.

Narrator: FARRELL AND PELZEK DOUBLE CHECK THE BOMB LOAD.

Man: AS I’M WALKING UP TO MY \h\h\hJET, I’M GOING TO TAKE

A LOOK, MAKE SURE THAT IT’S ALL THE ORDINANCE

IS LOADED ON IT ALREADY.

Woman: WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE \h\h\h\h\hSURE THAT MATCHES

WHAT WE’RE EXPECTING.

THAT’S A VERY BIG DEAL FOR US.

♪

\h\hNarrator: TWENTY MINUTES TO TAKE OFF.

IN THE CONTROLLED CHAOS \h\hOF THE FLIGHT DECK,

\hTHERE’S NO ROOM FOR THE PILOTS TO BE SPONTANEOUS.

Woman: WE REALIZE HOW \h\h\hDANGEROUS IT IS

\hAND NOT JUST FOR US, FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE

ON THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\h\hNarrator: PELZEK AND FARRELL GO FIRST.

♪

\h\h\hTHE DECK CREW LOCKS THEIR SUPER HORNET ONTO THE CATAPULT.

THE TWO AVIATORS BRACE FOR \hTHE JOLT OF THE LAUNCH.

♪

Woman: THE CATAPULT SHOT \h\h\h\hNEVER GETS OLD.

YOU KNOW IT’S COMING, BUT \h\hYOU DON’T KNOW EXACTLY

WHICH SECOND IT’S GOING TO HIT

\hSO IT KIND OF TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE ALMOST EVERY TIME.

♪

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Narrator: THIRTY SECONDS \hLATER, CLARK AND SASSO

SHOOT INTO THE AIR AS WELL.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hJUST FIVE MINUTES LATER, BOTH AIRCRAFT

ARE FLYING OVER IRAQ.

Woman: IF YOU’VE NEVER FLOWN \h\h\h\h\hOVER THAT PORTION

\hOF THE MIDDLE EAST, IT’S KIND OF A EXPANSIVE DESERT

WITH BUILT-UP CITIES.

\hEVEN THOUGH IT’S A WAR ZONE, PEOPLE LIVE THERE.

\h\hYOU KIND OF THINK WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF THAT WAS YOU.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE F-18S TYPICALLY CRUISE AT 50,000 FEET,

HIGH ABOVE ISIS WEAPONS.

\hFOR YEARS, THEY’VE BEEN ABLE TO FLY OVER IRAQ WITHOUT FEAR.

SIX MONTHS AGO, THAT CHANGED.

\hISIS FIGHTERS CAPTURED A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE

KNOWN AS THE SA-3.

\h\hIT’S REACH IS 10,000 FEET HIGHER THAN THE F-18S CAN FLY.

\h\h\hMan: IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT’S IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND,

HOW WE WOULD DEFEAT \h\hAN ENEMY MISSILE

IF IT WAS SHOT AT US.

\hYOU KIND OF ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON GUARD.

\hNarrator: THE TWO F-18S RACE TOWARD THEIR TARGET,

LOCKING IN THE COORDINATES \h\h\hFOR THE FOUR BOMBS.

Man: THINGS ARE NOW GETTING \h\h\h\h\h\hVERY, VERY REAL.

\h\hEVERYBODY GETS VERY, VERY FOCUSED

\hBECAUSE THE STAKES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE F-18 PILOTS DO A FINAL SCAN,

RECHECK THEIR COORDINATES,

AND DROP THEIR WEAPONS.

\hFROM 50,000 FEET, IT TAKES JUST 30 SECONDS

FOR A 2,000 POUND BOMB \hTO REACH THE GROUND.

[BOMB EXPLODES]

\h\h\hBOTH BOMBS ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

Woman: EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOU \h\h\hDID EVERYTHING RIGHT,

YOU’RE STILL WAITING \hTO SEE THAT IMPACT

\hAND, YOU KNOW, IT’S ALMOST LIKE TIME STOPS

AND YOU KIND OF ALMOST DON’T \hBREATHE THAT ENTIRE TIME.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\h\hNarrator: LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER,

THE SECOND F-18 ALSO \hHITS THE BULLSEYE.

[BOMB EXPLODES]

Woman: WHEN IT HITS, YOU KNOW, THERE’S KIND OF A FEELING OF,

\h\h"PHEW, THAT ACTUALLY DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO."

[BOMB EXPLODES]

\h\hNarrator: PUTTING BOMBS ON TARGET, THAT’S THE EASY PART.

\h\h\hPILOTS KNOW THAT THE LAST LEG OF THEIR JOURNEY

WILL BE MUCH HARDER.

Man: NOW A LOT OF MY THOUGHT \h\hPROCESS IS ON MY ABILITY

TO GET ABOARD SAFELY \hBACK ON THE BOAT,

BECAUSE LANDING ON THE SHIP \hIS EXTREMELY UNFORGIVING.

♪

Woman: NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU DO IT, IT’S NOT ANY EASIER.

\h\hNarrator: AS THEY RACE TOWARD THE SHIP,

\hFARRELL NOTICES SOMETHING UNUSUAL

ON HIS JET’S CONTROL PANEL.

HE REALIZES THAT THIS LANDING

WILL BE EVEN HARDER THAN MOST.

Woman: THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH \h\h\h\h\hOUR BRAKE PRESSURE,

WE WERE UNSURE WHETHER OUR BRAKES WERE GONNA

WORK NORMALLY.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: PELZEK AND FARRELL ASSESS THE SITUATION.

A BRAKE MALFUNCTION COULD \hLEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS.

Woman: THAT CAN AFFECT \h\h\h\hOTHER SYSTEMS,

\h\hSPECIFICALLY ONES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY

LEAD US TO SHUT DOWN \hTHE RIGHT ENGINE.

Man: AND IN THIS CASE, IT WASN’T REALLY ANYTHING WE COULD DO

TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FARRELL RADIOS TO THE SECOND F-18

TO SHARE THE BAD NEWS.

ALL HE CAN DO NOW IS \hHOPE FOR THE BEST.

HE WON’T KNOW IF THE \hF-18 HAS A PROBLEM

UNTIL HE TRIES TO LAND.

♪

\h\hON THE DECK OF THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH,

\hTHE CREW PREPARES FOR TWO F-18S RETURNING FROM BATTLE.

JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM LANDING,

ONE OF THE F-18S DISCOVERS \h\hIT MAY HAVE A PROBLEM

WITH IT’S BRAKES.

Man: THE SUPER HORNET IS \hA VERY SMART AIRPLANE

\h\hAND WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS, IT TELLS YOU.

\h\hNarrator: PELZEK AND FARRELL DON’T HAVE TIME

TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.

\hTHEY RADIO INTO THE TOWER TO LET THEM KNOW

THAT THERE MAY BE \hSOMETHING WRONG.

Woman: WE ESSENTIALLY \hNOTIFIED THE TOWER,

\hAND JUST LET THEM KNOW WE WERE UNSURE

WHETHER OUR BRAKES WERE \h\hGONNA WORK NORMALLY,

OR WHETHER WE WERE GONNA \hHAVE EMERGENCY BRAKES

AVAILABLE ON THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\hNarrator: THE TOWER RADIOS BACK

AND ASKS PELZEK AND FARRELL

TO LET THE OTHER F-18 LAND FIRST.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

♪

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

THE FIRST SUPER HORNET LANDS

\h\hAND QUICKLY GETS PULLED TO THE SIDE.

\h\hNOW, FARRELL AND PELZEK BEGIN THEIR FINAL APPROACH.

THREE MILES OUT, THE DECK IS THE SIZE OF A POSTAGE STAMP.

\h\hAPPROACHING AT 150 MILES AN HOUR,

IT GETS BIG VERY FAST.

Man: THAT’S WHERE THE TRAINING \h\h\h\h\hPAYS BIG DIVIDENDS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE READY, YOU \h\hFALL BACK ON YOUR TRAINING

\h\h\h\hAND YOUR BASELINE OF KNOWLEDGE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

♪

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\h\h\hNarrator: THE SECOND F-18 SCREECHES TO A HALT.

\h\hNORMALLY, PILOTS RELEASE THE ARRESTING WIRE QUICKLY.

WITH THEIR BRAKES UNCERTAIN, \h\h\h\h\hPELZEK AND FARRELL

\hNEED TO STAY TETHERED OR RISK ROLLING OFF THE DECK

AND INTO THE WATER.

Man: WE KEPT SOME POWER \h\h\hUP ON THE ENGINES

AND THEY BROUGHT A TRACTOR OUT,

HOOKED A TRACTOR UP TO \hUS AND TOWED US OUT.

Woman: THEY COULD JUST PULL US \h\h\hOUT OF THE LANDING AREA

AND THEN SHUT US DOWN AND \h\hTHEN THEY COULD TOW IT

\hAND WORK ON THE BRAKES FROM SOME OTHER POSITION

ON THE FLIGHT DECK.

♪

Narrator: THE AIR CREW BRINGS \h\hTHE JET TO THE HANGAR BAY.

THEY MUST GET IT READY \hTO GO BACK TO WORK.

[CREW CHEERS]

BACK IN THE READY ROOM,

THE FOUR MISSION PILOTS \hREJOIN THEIR SQUADRON.

Woman: WHAT WE THINK OF AS A \h\hWAR ZONE DOESN’T ALWAYS

LOOK LIKE A WAR ZONE.

IT’S VERY DIFFERENT \h\h\hON A CARRIER.

\hIT GIVES US THE ABILITY COME BACK

AND BE KIND OF NORMAL PEOPLE.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Man: WE’RE FORTUNATE TO \h\hHAVE ENOUGH AIR CREW

\h\hTHAT WE PROBABLY SEE THREE TO FOUR DAYS DOWN

AND THEN IT STARTS \hALL OVER AGAIN.

\h\h\hWE’VE GOT AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OUT HERE IN THE GULF

\h\hAND WE’VE GOT OTHER MISSIONS THAT WE’VE GOTTA GO OUT AND DO.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hNarrator: HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SIX MONTH DEPLOYMENT,

\h\hTHE SHIP AND THE AIR WING SETTLE INTO

\h\hTHE TOUGH, SWEATY RHYTHM OF LIFE AT SEA,

\h\h\h\hFIGHTING AMERICA’S BATTLES OR PROVIDING HELP

TO THOSE IN NEED.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

Man: THE UNITED STATES NAVY \h\hIS OFTEN THE FIRST ONES

TO KICK DOWN THE DOOR.

BUT I’VE SEEN MANY TIMES IN MY CAREER

WHERE WE SENT HELOS ASHORE IN THE WAKE OF A DISASTER,

AND THIS AIR WING SHIP TEAM BRINGS OVER 5,000 AMERICANS

\h\hREADY TO ASSIST, IF THAT’S WHAT OUR NATION ASKS US TO DO.

\h\hNarrator: THAT’S 5,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL FOCUSED

ON THE SAME GOAL:

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

TO LAUNCH AND LAND US NAVY AIRCRAFT.

Man: GETTING AIRBORNE IS \hTHE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

\h\hLIFE AND DEATH OF THE US SERVICE MEMBER

ON THE GROUND SOMEWHERE. AND I KNOW OUR SAILORS TAKE THAT

ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THAT AIRPLANE GOES FLYING,

THEY’VE ACHIEVED SUCCESS.

\hTHE FACT THAT WE’RE ABLE TO DO IT EVERYDAY

AND EVERY EVENT IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE MOVING PARTS BEHIND IT.

Narrator: THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH,

HERE TO DEFEAT AN EVIL ENEMY,

TO SUPPORT AND MAKE \hFRIENDS OF ALLIES

IN THE ARABIAN GULF

AND TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION

AROUND THE WORLD.

Man: THE MARITIME ENVIRONMENT MAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION

OF THE EARTH, SO HE WHO \hCONTROLS OR HAS ACCESS

TO THE MARITIME ENVIRONMENT \h\h\h\hHAS A KEY STRATEGIC

CAPABILITY WITHIN \hWORLD OPERATIONS

AND THERE’S A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT.

[JET ENGINE ROARS]

\hNarrator: FOR THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF MONTHS,

THE BUSH STAYS IN \hTHE ARABIAN GULF

GIVING AMERICA FLEXIBILITY, \h\h\h\hPRESENCE AND POWER.

Man: I’M MAKING SURE THAT THE \h\h\h\hFREEDOM OF NAVIGATION,

AND FREE FLOW OF COMMERCE \h\h\hIS OCCURRING WITHIN

\hTHE ARABIAN GULF AND REASSURING OUR FRIENDS

\h\hWITHIN THE ARABIAN GULF THAT WE ARE HERE AS FRIENDS

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THEM.

WE’VE PROVEN OVER YEARS THE \h\hMOBILITY OF THE CARRIER,

THE FIREPOWER OF THE AIR WING AND THE SHIP ITSELF

\hIS A POWERFUL PIECE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

[CHEERING]

\hIT KEEPS US BUSY, BUT IT’S A GOOD JOB.

[JET ENGINES ROAR]