Here's why it's an aircraft carrier tradition to catapult a pair of boots

Lauren FriasFeb 27, 2024, 05:25 IST

Cmdr. Dennis Metz's boots wait to be launched from the flight deck during a boot shoot.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bill M. Sanders

The US Navy is full of time-honored traditions.
A personal one for naval aviators is known as a "boot shoot."

The US Navy has many unique traditions, such as painting sailors' noses blue when operating in the Arctic Circle or putting "pollywog" sailors through a series of disgusting initiation rites while crossing the equator.

Among the peculiar practices is launching a pair of boots off the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in a special ceremony known as a "boot shoot."

What is a boot shoot?

A pair of boots prepare to be launched off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Madison Cassidy

Signal for takeoff

Lt. Nicholas Woodworth and Robert Wilkerson prepare to shoot their boots off the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson using the ship's catapult.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White

'The conductor of the flight deck'

A US Navy catapult and arresting gear officer signals for the launch of a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mick DiMestico

Yellow shirts

Lt. Cmdr. Alex Cleaveland secures a pair of boots to a catapult to be launched off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Madison Cassidy

Highly trained personnel

Cmdr. Dennis Metz, the mini-boss aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, prepares for a boot shoot on the flight deck.U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bill M. Sanders

Final sendoff

Sailors signal the catapult launch during a boot shoot on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas Burgains

A bittersweet farewell

Sailors observe boots being launched during a "boot shoot" on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Clayton A. Wren

Photos show dependable sea dogs serving alongside US sailors in the Navy

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