Final Tomcat combat flight....another great fighter retired.

[Spanky]

February 8, 2006 marked the end of F-14 Tomcats role in combat with the US Navy. Aboard the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) an F-14 from VF-213 "Blacklions" made the last combat "trap" (landing on a carrier).

Piloted by Capt. William G. Sizemore II, USN, commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight, "Lion 204" was recovered at 12:35 a.m. "It’s the end of an era and it just kind of worked out that I was the last trap," commented Capt. Sizemore. "This is one of the best airplanes ever built, and it’s sad to see it go away. It’s just a beautiful airplane. It’s powerful, it has presence, and it just looks like the ultimate fighter."

Lt. Bill Frank, USN, of sister squadron VF-31 "Tomcatters" also took part in the last mission, and is credited with being the last Tomcat pilot to drop a bomb from an F-14. "We were called on to drop, and that’s what we did," said Lt. Frank. "It’s special and it’s something I can say I did, but what’s more important is the work of the Sailors who made it possible. They have worked so hard during this cruise to make every Tomcat operational."

"I don’t think there is anything better than a Tomcat, but it’s probably a good time for it to go away," said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AW) Gene Casterlin, VF-31. "The Navy is getting smaller and more efficient, and it will only get harder to maintain the Tomcat. But no matter what, the Tomcat is the sexiest airplane in the sky."

During their final deployment aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-31 and 213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of OIF.

"As we near the end of the Tomcat’s last deployment, we are proud of our legacy and take solace in the fact that the Tomcat is going out at the top of its game, but also regret saying farewell to an old, revered and trusted friend," said CDR. Richard LaBranche, USN, VF-31 commanding officer.

"From its inception, the Tomcat has been the icon of Naval Aviation with its striking appearance, speed, formidable lethality and versatility," said CDR. LaBranche. "It is more capable today than at any other time during its existence because of the innovation, dedication, and tenacity of every maintainer and pilot who has ever been associated with it."

VF-213 will be making the transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet in April. VF-31 will remain last and only official Tomcat squadron in the Navy until September 2006. They, too, will transition to the Super Hornet a month later marking the Tomcat’s end of a thirty-six year association with the US Navy.

[SpaceCanada]

"But no matter what, the Tomcat is the sexiest airplane in the sky."

I'm still a fan of the CF-18, but it will be sad to see the F-14's leave the lineup.

[Sandrat]

Sad day for the Navy - probably the saddest since the full retirement of the A-4 Skyhawk.

We can only hope that the Hornets and future strike aircraft can try to continue this proud lineage.

"Fighter pilots makes movies, bomber pilots make history!"

[Boomerang]

"OLD TOMCATS NEVER DIE THEY JUST SIGN OFF. ONE LAST TIME BABY" Quote from my favorite F-14 t-shirt i own. Truly that is a sad day for F-14 fans everywhere she was truly a great fighter and one of the last of a dying breed. Planes built originally to be pure fighter aircraft instead of fighter attack. I have seen the new Super Horntes perform and they are replacing the Tomcats. The plane is incredible but she is no Tomcat.

Tomcat Squadrons and their callsigns
VF-1 WOLFPACK
CALLSIGN:WITCHITA

VF-2 BOUNTY HUNTERS
CALLSIGN: BULLETS

VF-11 RED RIPPERS
CALLSIGN: RIPPER

VF-14 TOPHATTERS
CALLSIGN: CAMELOT

VF-21 FRELANCERS
CALLSIGN: LANCE

VF-24 RENEGADES
CALLSIGN: RAGE

VF-31 TOMCATTERS
CALLSIGN: TOMCAT

VF-32 SWORDSMAN
CALSSIGN GYPSY

VF-33 STARFIGHTERS
CALLSIGN TARBOX

VF-41 BLACK ACES
CALLSIGN FAST EAGLE

VF-51 SCREAMING EAGLES
CALLSIGN EAGLES

VF-74 BE-DEVILERS
CALLSIGN DEVIL

VF-84 JOLLY ROGERS
CALLSIGN VICTORY

VF-101 GRIM REAPERS
CALLSIGN GUNFIGHTER

VF-102 DIAMONDBACKS
CALLSIGN DIAMOND

VF-103 SLUGGERS (JOLLY ROGERS)
CALLSIGN VICTORY

VF-111 SUNDOWNERS
CALLSIGN SUNDOWNER

VF-114 AARDVARKS
CALLSIGN AARDVARK

VF-124 GUNFIGHTERS
CALLSIGN GUNSLINGER

VF-142 GHOSTRIDERS
CALLSIGN DAKOTA

VF-143 PUKIN' DOGS
CALLSIGN DOG

VF-154 BLACK KNIGHTS
CALLSIGN BLACK KNIGHT

VF-191 SATAN'S KITTENS
CALLSIGN HELLCAT

VF-194 RED LIGHTNINGS
CALLSIGN RED FLASH

VF-201 HUNTERS
CALLSIGN HUNTER

VF-202 SUPERHEATS
CALLSIGN SUPERHEAT

VF-211 CHECKMATES
CALLSIGN NICKEL

VF-213 BLACKLIONS
CALLSIGN BLACKLION

VF-301 DEVIL'S DISCIPLES
CALLSIGN DEVIL

VF-302 STALLIONS
CALLSIGN STALLION

OTHER UNITS WHO USED THE F-14 IN ITS HISTORY

VF-1285 THE FIGHTING FUBIJARS

VF-1485 aMERICANS

VF-1486 FIGHTING HOBOS

VX-4 EVALUATORS

VX-9 VAMPIRES

NASA

NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER

NFWS & NSAWC NAVY FIGHTER WEAPONS SCHOOL (TOP GUM)

VX-30

VX-31

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER
CALLSIGN SALTY DOG