Deck Crew Color Designations on Modern US Aircraft Carriers

Much goes into flight operations aboard today's modern Navy aircraft carrier. Preparations for a launch very much resemble a well-choreographed ballet. Those involved in the evolution have specific, cleary-defined roles, and are easily recognizable by the color of their jerseys.

Color

Task

 Sample images
 
  • Air wing quality control personnel
  • Squadron plane inspectors
  • Landing Signal Officer (LSO)
  • Air Transfer Officers (ATO)
  • Liquid Oxygen (LOX) crews
  • Safety Observers
  • Medical personnel
    
 
  • Ordnancemen
  • Crash and Salvage Crews
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
 
  • Catapult and arresting gear crews
  • Air wing maintenance personnel
  • Cargo-handling personnel
  • Ground Support Equipment (GSE) troubleshooters
  • Hook runners
  • Photographer's Mates
  • Helicopter landing signal enlisted personnel (LSE)
 
  • Yellow 
  • Aircraft handling officers
  • Catapult and Arresting Gear officers
  • Plane directors
 
  • Aviation fuel
 
  • Air wing plane captains
  • Air wing line leading petty officers
 
  • Plane Handlers
  • Aircraft elevator Operators
  • Tractor Drivers
  • Messengers and Phone Talkers


All photos by US Navy News.

Zoltan "neu" Pocza
Saturday, February 12, 2005