AUGUST 19, 2026 – After 34 years of continuous service projecting American sea power, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has achieved a major aviation milestone: the 200,000th fixed-wing aircraft recovery while underway in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 18, 2026.
Lt. Steven Frazier, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 147, received the honor of this historic feat by landing in an F-35C Lighting II after flying routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation. He emphasized that it was a “team effort” from every airwing division leading up to each successful aircraft recovery.
“For the George Washington, more than anything, it shows consistency over the last 34 years to be able to complete whatever mission the country calls upon it to do,” Frazier said. “For me personally, it shows that if this aircraft carrier launches me off of the ship, I’ll be able to come back and land on it.”
Each aircraft recovery – or “trap” – consists of fixed wing aircraft safely landing on the ship by catching a thick, steel arresting gear cable with its tail hook. The carrier is capable of landing one aircraft on deck per minute, and typically lands 70 aircraft across several events throughout the day.
“Two hundred thousand traps is not just a number – it is a testament to the enduring strength of American naval aviation and the unmatching professionalism of the Sailors who make it possible,” said Rear Adm. Jeffrey L. Heames, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5. “This milestone reminds the world that U.S. carriers remain ready to launch and recover aircraft anywhere, anytime, in defense of freedom and our allies.”
For more than three decades, thousands of George Washington Sailors have played a vital role in safely launching and recovering aircrafts. These daily evolutions aboard George Washington by the countless warfighters who served aboard this warship lead up to this moment in U.S. Navy history.
“I am immensely proud of every Sailor who has served aboard George Washington over the past 34 years,” said Captain Nicholas DeLeo, commander, USS George Washington. “The 200,000th trap belongs to the arresting gear teams, the yellow shirts, the maintainers, and every watch-stander who ensures this afloat airfield stays full mission-capable. Our ship continues to deliver combat power from the sea, and this milestone is proof that GW is ready for whatever the nation asks of us.”
Each successful trap represents seamless teamwork among pilots, landing signal officers, flight deck crews, arresting gear operations below decks, and maintainers who keep the complex hydraulic and mechanical systems ready day and night, in all weather. For more than 34 years George Washington has recovered aircraft ranging from earlier F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18C/D Hornets to today’s Super Hornets, Growlers, Hawkeyes, and F-35C Lighting IIs.
“Every trap is a high-stakes ballet of skill, trust, and precision. Reaching 200,000 on George Washington is a shared achievement between the air wing and the ship’s company,” said Capt. Brian Kesselring, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5. “All-hands, past and present, who served aboard George Washington played a part in reaching this monumental historical milestone.”
As George Washington continues its service well into its fourth decade, the 200,000-trap mark stands as both a celebration of past excellence and a foundation for the tens of thousands of traps still to come.
The GWCSG includes George Washington, Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW 5), guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 ship USS Shoup (DDG 86), forming the U.S. Navy’s largest and only forward-deployed carrier strike group.
George Washington, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations,is the U.S. Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet.
Courtesy Story
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)