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The Aircraft Carrier USS Essex CVA9 is shown with a 7 Plane Flyover. This cruise lasted from Aug.7, 1959 - Feb.26, 1960 Operation Monsoon
The picture was taken in the Mediterranean Ocean around January 1960 by a pilot of VFP-62 photo Cougar F9F-8P.
All 7 aircraft in formation use the tail code AK
Look at the bottom and see the 8th Squadron HUP-2