USS America conducts flight ops in Coral Sea

CORAL SEA (July 25, 2025) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Christopher Meraz, from Passaic, New Jersey, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), clears a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, to taxi on the ship’s flight deck, while conducting flight operations, July 25. The America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeadan Andre)