Each year during Christmas season a sailor dressed as Santa Claus is tasked to direct aircraft movement during flight operations aboard U.S. Navy flattops
Taken on Dec. 10, 2016, the pictures in this article show Santa Claus giving the signal to launch a T-45C Goshawk from Training Air Wing Two (TRAWING) 2 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
George Washington, homeported in Norfolk, is underway conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.
Actually, this is not the first time that a catapult officer dresses up as Santa Claus to assist flight operations on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier: in fact, each year during the Christmas season a sailor dressed as Santa Claus is tasked to direct aircraft movement during flight operations aboard U.S. Navy flattops.
Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Wyatt L. Anthony / U.S. Navy
