Although still carrying the markings of the 100th Fighter Squadron "Red Tails" of the Alabama ANG, the F-16 was assigned to the 120th FS of the Colorado ANG. The 100th FS was one of the Tuskegee Airmen squadrons during World War II, activated on 19 February 1942 at Tuskegee Army Air Field (AL). It was returned to duty in 2007 as a replacement of the Alabama ANG 160th FS so the state could honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. This F-16 was retired by the 100th during the squadrons transition to F-35A. It was just assigned to the 120th and not repainted when deployed for Air Defender 2023.

Retired to AMARC on 16 April 2004 with inventory code FG0492 after serving the 195th FS 162nd FW of the Arizona ANG.

The second prototype of the F-35A (first flight 21 April 2010 and delivered to Edwards 17 May 2010) was used in a series of tests with the internal 25 mm GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary cannon. The gun is seen here, uncovered and mounted internally near the left wing root. The gun carries 182 rounds and is effective against ground targets. AF-02 is seen here in a test area of Edwards. The Lightning II and its gun were directed to a distance huge sand wall in which the 25 mm rounds were fired.

The fourth F-35A prototype (first flight 30 December 2010 and delivered to Edwards on 22 January 2011) is seen here loaded with AIM-9X Sidewinders and four GBU-12 Paveway II 500-lb. un-powered, laser-guided bombs.

This Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) IV F-35A made its first flight from Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (TX) on 7 November 2012. It stayed with the Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (LMTAS) up to early 2014 when it was delivered to the USAF Weapons Center in June 2013 at Tyndall. It was then moved to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and the 31st TES in June 2014 where it stayed until 2017. It was then transferred to Luke AFB (AZ)

Following its NFDS career, this Herk sevred VMGR-352, -252 and -352 and was sadly dumped at Miramar from March 2005. It was last seen without engines and nose, and complete striupped from the inside in mid-2005. Most probably the aircraft was fully scrapped soon after.

A grey packed Cat flight line at Miramar. After VF-24, this Tomcat served VF-213, VF-1 and VF-111 before it went to Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP) at Miramar in 1995. It was then moved to Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (FL), overhauled and assigned to VF-211 by 1997 and later assigned to VF-41. This squadron said farewell to 161294, it was withdrawn from use in 2000, stored at NAS Oceana (VA) and eventually stricken and scrapped by early 2003.

After service with VF-24, this Tomcat was assigned to VF-154, VF-21 and VX-9. It was withdrawn from use at Point Mugu (CA), received a Stricken Aircraft Reclamation and Disposal Program (SARDIP) in 1998, was moved to the Hollywoord Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) studios. The F-14A was used for some movie clips. Thereafter, it was moved to HVF West at Tuscon (AZ) in 1999. The Tomcat was subsequently scrapped.

Retired to AMARC on 19 December 2001 with inventory code 1K0120. Moved to HVF west at Tucson on 25 September 2003 for scrap.

This fine Tomcat was delivered to the US Navy on 27 March 1982 and started to fly with Fighter Squadron (VF) 2, it later flew with VF-211 (as pictured), again VF-2, VF-213, VF-154 and crashed with that squadron during a night approach to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) while operating in the Persian Gulf on 15 June 1999. The Tomcat had a single engine failure and returned to the carrier. But some minutes before the landing, the other engine stopped working too. Both crew managed to eject safely.

Delivered to the US Navy in 1963 as A-6A and later converted to KA-6D. The Intruder - seen here during its take-off from Miramar while assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 on board the USS Constellation (CV-64) - was was stricken in 1990 and scrapped at homebase Whidbey Island (WA) by August 1990.

Stricken at NAS Oceana after serving VF-101 by September 1998

A heavy crop of a KC-130F during its take-off from homebase El Toro. The Herk was placed in storage at AMARG on 21 June 2004 with inventory code 2G0034.

A FY82 F/A-18B serving Fleet Replacement Squadron Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 "Sharpshooters". The Hornet, seen here on its way to the runway of homebase El Toro, was transferred to the US Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron "Blue Angels" in 2000 and received tailnumber 7. It was damaged in 2008 but repaired and was eventually preserved at Detroit Science Museum (MI) in 2010 but moved to Chino's Yanks Air Museum in 2012.

Three brand-new Hornets passed MCAS El Toro (CA) on this day during their delivery flight to MCB Kaneohe Bay (HI). This 163772/DB-02, ordered in FY87, had a USMC career from August 1989 onwards. It flew with VMFA-235, -232, -212 and was transferred to the US Navy because it was less stressed in comparisation with US Navy carrier operated Hornets. It was assigned to VFA-86, -136, -125 and -122 before it returned to the USMC. It was then assigned to VMFAT-101 before it was retired to AMARC on 14 September 2018.

The Green Knights of VMA(AW)-121 - normally coded "VK-xx", just returned from a WestPac and Indian Ocean deployment with the USS Ranger (CV-61) and within Carrier Air Wing TWO that lasted from 24 February to 24 August 1989. BuNo 154167 was delivered to the US Navy in 1968. It was transferred to the USMC and later returned to the US Navy. After a storage period at Andrews (MD) from May 1998 it was handed over to the National Air and Space Museum, Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center (VA) where it is preserved since. 154167 is seen here returning from a mission at El Toro, check those nice airbrakes!