Navy Tomcat Squadrons on Final Flight Home [final deployment Cold War-era fighter jet]

LA Times ^ | March, 7 2006 | From Times Wire Reports

[Former Military Chick]

The Navy's last two squadrons of F-14 Tomcats are heading home, ending the final combat deployment of the Cold War-era fighter jet. The Tomcats will be replaced by F/A-18 Super Hornets.

[Former Military Chick]

It is a brief article .... but this is a huge part of military history.

All things come to an end, but I imagine that there are many unaware of the contribution's of the Tomcat squadron's in past military conflicts.

I would enjoy reading any personal thoughts as it pertains to the historical aspect of the Navy Tomcats.

They served us well, I have no doubt the Super Hornet's will do the same.

[Former Military Chick]

FYI

[SandRat]

If they don't become static displays in front of a VFW or something I'll be seeing them at D-M AFB soon.

[xrp]

GOTTA HAVE PICTURES!

[robomurph]

I hope someone catches video of a 22 ship formation break!

[Former Military Chick]

In reflection you have a point. Often, unless you go into the museum on the installation you know little of what type of aircraft it is.

Tomcat's have made a huge contribution, I hope we will have a few Freeper's with a mind to share their thoughts/experiences about them.

[Rummyfan]

Negative Maverick, the grid is full!

[gas0linealley]

"Anytime...baby!" (Tomcat decals)

[Emmet Fitzhume]

The F-14 Tomcat is a true symbol of 1980s Americana. From the film "Top Gun," to the GI Joe Skystriker, anyone who grew up in the 1980s knew this bird well. God Bless Naval Aviators everywhere!

[Miss Behave]

Ooooh yeah.

[in hoc signo vinces]

the Navy should keep these planes flight ready at some naval air station, IMHO.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

[al baby]

Ill keep one for them il wipe it down with a diaper and all

[Jotmo]

Is anyone aware of the F-14's connection to the F-111?

Interesting story.

[Don Carlos]

Pinging Pukin Dog. Input needed - urgent!

[Emmet Fitzhume]

[MikeWUSAF]

I had one as a kid. They didn't actually fly real well...

I've always loved the F-14 even though I'm an Air Force puke.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

[Black Birch]

VF 41 and VF 84 ping. They were flying Tomcats when I was on
the Nimitz in the early 80's.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

[xrp]

How bout'cha post the story for us!

[Jotmo]

The Nimitz?

WOW.

What was it like going through that time warp thingy?

[Emmet Fitzhume]

I received the Night Operations version myself, and I love it.

What do you do in the USAF?

[xrp]

What was it like going through that time warp thingy?

An even better question is why didn't he knock Martin Sheen overboard and leave him in 1941 when he had a chance!

[DevSix]

Terrible decision to let the F-14 go out to pasture - They should have made the F-14D + ....instead of going with just the 18's -

The F-18 is a great aircraft....but it is definitely no replacement for the F-14 -

Our USN is less effective without 14's (and especially with no true replacement...taking its place).

[bondjamesbond]

That is one lethal looking machine. It could scare the enemy to death!

[Jotmo]

In a nut shell, the F-111 was developed as an all service aircraft (AF & Navy). It had many flaws that made it impractical for carrier operations. So the navy decided to build there own version, and the came up with the F-14?

So if the F-11 was a more suitable aircraft for the navy, there would be no F-14.

[JRandomFreeper]

God bless the men that fly and fight, whatever their uniform or service.

Sad to see a bird move into the desert. My Eagle will be next, I suppose.

/johnny

[Jotmo]

It will be a SAD day indeed when the F-15's are retired.

[Black Birch]

What was it like going through that time warp thingy?

Awful. We went through it every other day or so, or at least it seemed that way. They played that movie more times than I care to remember on the ships video system.

[Jasper]

Coming at ya!!

/jasper

[Pistolshot]

The 14 was built specifically to carry the Phoenix missle....6 of them. It is the only aircraft to successfully engage 6 independent targets with the Phoenix and shoot them down.

Drawback is maintenence hours and the ability to go air-to-mud. Although this was addressed in the last version of the Tomcat, it is not quite as versitile as the F/A-18. The ATF for the Navy and Marines, the VTOL version, will most likely replace the Hornet.

But the Tom was one hell of a fighter.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Terrible decision to let the F-14 go out to pasture - They should have made the F-14D + ....instead of going with just the 18's -

There is a story behind that.

In 1990, SECDEF Cheney offered to pay for the F-14D+ "Bombcat" conversion (basically, making the F-14 air-to-ground capable), using OSD funds--essentially, the Tomcat would've become far more capable without the Navy having to shell out one thin dime.

NAVAIR said "no, thank you." The F-14 community did not want to drop bombs, and NAVAIR believed that Dick Cheney would never cancel the A-12, no matter how bad the cost overruns.

Dick Cheney subsequently found out that NAVAIR had lied to him about the A-12 program's financial condition, and later found out that the Navy had started the program fraudulently. Meanwhile, NAVAIR proceeded to ask Cheney for a bunch of single-mission F-14Ds.

Cheney blew his stack, NAVAIR lost BOTH the A-12 and the F-14D, and the Bombcat became a reality after the F-14's contribution to the Gulf War was getting shot down by SAMs and shooting down one Iraqi helicopter.

Bottom line: when the world changes, and your boss proposes a relatively painless way for you to change with it, it's probably a good idea to go along with your boss.

[middie]

No, or at best, very few spare parts. Worn out engines, obsolete avionics, radars, and virtually everything else that flies and fights. It was an airframe built around a missile, the Phoenix on launch rails, the entire system no longer is viable. Thus, the airframe is the same and is too expensive to retain as a flying relic. And that's the name of that tune...

[Jotmo]

LOL. When on deployment to Spain once, they played "Silverado" EVERY NIGHT, on the AF network. Oh the Horror!

[A.A. Cunningham]

The ATF for the Navy and Marines, the VTOL version, will most likely replace the Hornet.

JSF not ATF.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

I know.

It is sharp!!!

[Northern Yankee]

Great aircraft.

Interesting story....

Back in the 1950's my father-in-law used to love to watch the P-51 Mustangs take off in the morning from Elmendorf AFB, in Alaska.

20 odd years later I would watch the F-4 Phantoms taking off at Elmendorf during those morning runs.

Last summer they had an F-4 and a P-51 Mustang fly over together at the EAA Fly In at Oshkosh, to commemorate their service in the U.S. Air Force.

Amazing to see...

[Don Carlos]

the F-111 was developed as an all service aircraft

The F-111, aka Aardvark, aka flying McNamara. How McNamara ever thought that thing could be launched and recovered from a carrier blows the mind. Anyone who has ever stood beside one knows what I'm talking about.

Lord, save us from "bean counter' leadership!

[Former Military Chick]

Thank you for adding the photo's to the thread, you are right, you must have pictures.

[TheLion]

After a little research I found this good article posted here in 2001. I am unconvinced that this replacement makes since.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/595147/posts

[Former Military Chick]

totally rocking photo, thank you

[Jotmo]

Yes, one of the F-111's nick names was McNamara's Folly. What a disaster.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Final Flight Ceremony scheduled to take place Friday 22 September 2006, Hangar 500, NAS Oceana.

[Former Military Chick]

I second your comment, thanks for reminding us to salute all of our folks in uniform and on this thread a special salute for those protect via the skies.

[Former Military Chick]

thank you so much for sharing that recollection ... a story to share for years to come to be sure ...

They are amazing machines, and when you have a display such as you described well it renders one speechless ... at least for the moment ... after that it is like being a little kid all over again to be sure.

[MikeWUSAF]

Former 2E271. Honorably discharged last June.

[thulldud]

Robert Strange McNamara, the man who destroyed more US weapons systems than any enemy could have done, also may count the Vietnam war among his follies. Ever hear of "graduated pressure"?

Trying to run a war like an assembly line. Never again, please, Lord,,,,

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

There is no sweeter sound that a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in a P-51 except my grandkids saying "I love you, Pawpaw".:-)

[DevSix]

Nah - There is more to the story then that - But I won't go into it - I respect the hell out of VP Cheney. But he was wrong with regard to his decision on the 14's - And the reality of that wrong headed decision has been felt.

18 drivers can talk all the smoke they want....14's would eat them for lunch.....and that isn't a good thing for our national security.

Furthermore you are completely wrong with your take regarding the F-14's in the first Gulf War - Iraqi's "know" when they are being painted by 14's.....and they chose to run each and every time.

Additionally even those 14's that were converted to the "Bobcat" ....they have out performed the newer 18's we are basing our national security on. 14's were routinely specifically called for by boots on the ground (in both Stan and Iraq). 18's just don't have the legs nor the speed to help guys out in the sh*t like even old-14's do.

Regards,