A Fighter Squadron 24 "Checkertails" F-14A during a steep approach to homebase NAS Miramar (CA). The VF-24 bird (F-14A-Block 85-GR) was the 15th F-14A that was remanufactured to F-14D, as a result it received the designation F-14D(R). The Tomcat was stricken with VF-31 on 13 January 1995 when it was involved in a mid-air collision with F-14D 164340 over the Pacific Ocean, south of San Diego. The crew was rescued by a SH-60F from HS-8 and a nearby operating US Marine Corps CH-53E.