“半升美國國旗 Half-raised American Flag + AV-8B Harrier Attack Plane” / USS Peleliu (LHA-5) in Hong Kong / SML.20130418.6D.01306

A half-raised American flag was seen hanging at the tail end of the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) next to one of the six AV-8B Harrier attack planes currently deployed on the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy [1].

 

Made by the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), the AV-8B Harrier II is a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) ground-attack aircraft [2]. Since in service, the AV-8Bs have provided close air support for ground troops and performed armed reconnaissance, thus proving themselves versatile assets for the US military.

 

Of particular interest to me is the cockpit—as from far away I had thought that there was a person inside, only to discover during processing that it was just how the seat was designed.

 

I do not know why the flag is half-raised. The ship is not currently in active duty for combat according to available sources, so it might have been lowered to mourn the losses from the Boston Marathon bombings which happened earlier this week [3].

 

# SML Data

+ Date: 2013-04-18T17:38:48+0800

+ Dimensions: 3648 x 5472

+ Exposure: 1/320 sec at f/5.6

+ Focal Length: 360 mm

+ ISO: 400

+ Flash: Did not fire

+ Camera: Canon EOS 6D

+ Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

+ GPS: 22°17'42" N 114°10'7" E

+ Location: 中國香港九龍尖沙咀海港城 Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

+ Subject: McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, USS Peleliu (LHA-5), United States Navy

+ Workflow: Lightroom 4

+ Serial: SML.20130418.6D.01306

+ Series: Photojournalism

 

# Notes

1. Wikipedia: EN: USS Peleliu (LHA-5): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Peleliu_(LHA-5)

2. Wikipedia: EN: McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier

3. Wikipedia: EN: Boston Marathon Bombings: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Boston_Marathon_bombings

 

# Media Licensing

Creative Commons (CCBY) See-ming Lee 李思明 / SML Photography / SML Universe Limited

 

“半升美國國旗 Half-raised American Flag + AV-8B Harrier Attack Plane” / USS Peleliu (LHA-5) in Hong Kong / SML.20130418.6D.01306

/ #Photojournalism #CreativeCommons #CCBY #SMLPhotography #SMLUniverse #SMLProjects

/ #中國 #中国 #China #香港 #HongKong #攝影 #摄影 #photography #US #Navy #USS #Peleliu #LHA5 #planes #flags #America #USA #ships #AB8B #attack #Boeing

Done