intercepters...intercepting

[MachFly]

How come it does not have any flags?

[bangsbox]

How come it does not have any flags?

only studmuffin$ need flags said the russian destroyer

[Mace2004]

Hmm, I don't have as much knowledge on the Cold War as I should, so this might seem a little silly..but...

Russian bombers flew this close to U.S. airspace? That they had to be escorted out or "intercepted" by NATO fighters? 

Define "this close".  Truth is, most of these pictures were taken in other parts of the world and nobody went into anyone else's international airspace.  The US Navy typically will intercept and escort any aircraft that comes near a carrier battle group, that's why most pictures of this type have F-14's, F-18's, F-4's, F-8's (and the occasional A-6) escorting them.  It happened all the time, we never let a Soviet (or other aircraft) aircraft anywhere near a CV without an escort.  The reasons are obvious.  The potential for a sneak attack was always there of course but most of it was the aspect of letting them know that we knew they were around.  There were lots of things going on in the cold war that folks didn't know much about and yes, this type of stuff still goes on.

[Mace2004]

How come it does not have any flags?

Because flags are expensive and they wear out.  You'll see big flags when they're in port but at sea, naval ships typically fly much smaller flags (called ensigns) or no flag at all.  Identifying whose ship it is was more a matter of identifying the ship type itself which is much easier and distinctive than getting close enough to see their actual flag.

[MachFly]

Roger