USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) crew spells out 'Mercury 9' on the flight deck on 15 May 1963

The crew of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) spells out the words "Mercury 9" on the ship's flight deck while on the way to the recovery area where astronaut Gordon Cooper was expected to splash down in his "Faith 7" Mercury space capsule.The destroyers USS Fletcher (DD-445) and USS John A. Bole (DD-755) are steaming with Kearsarge.