Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5241Grumman F-14A "Tomcat" BuNo 162692/AJ 201, VF-84 "Jolly Rogers", Post Operation Desert Storm, August 1991
General Background
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, target acquisition, ECM and weapons usage. The Tomcat was operated by the United States Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name "Tomcat" is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.
The Aircraft
In December 1990, VF-84 deployed on board USS Theodore Roosevelt to take part in Operation Desert Shield which soon became Operation Desert Storm. VF-84 flew 468 combat sorties and F-14A Tomcat 162692 was assigned to the VF-84 CO. After Desert Storm VF-84 flew 111 more sorties in support of Operation Provide Comfort before USS Forrestal relieved the USS Theodore Roosevelt in June 1991. The aircraft was given this new scheme upon returning home from ODS and OPC. This aircraft was flown by several squadrons over its life which ended at AMARC on August 3, 2005.
