C-2A about to touch down at the USS Theordore Roosevelt (CVN-71), closely observed by three F-14Ds. The Carrier On-board Delivery aircraft is a true work horse and flies all day long between the carrier and shore bases to supply the floating city rotating personnel, food, spare parts, post, journalists (like me), general cargo, and so on. Unfortunately, in due time, these beautiful prop planes will be replaced by CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotors.

F-14D of Fighting THIRTY ONE taxiying over the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the sundown cruise of the Tomcat.

A Black Lions F-14D during its landing at the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Sea). Fighter Squadron (VF) 213 was busy at that time with their final cruise with the F-14 Tomcat.

A VF-31 Tomcat being prepared for another Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. The radar received some maintenance and bombs put ready to attached underneath the fuselage.

A fine study of a resting F-14D on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt during operating Iraqi Freedom.

Touch down of a VF-213 F-14D during the Tomcat sunset cruise. The squadron embarked the USS Theodore Roosevelt together with VF-31 Tomcatters for this memorable deployment.

One of my favorite F-14 Tomcat pictures. AJ-105 of Fighting Squadron (VF) 31 grabs the cable on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during the final cruise of the F-14. VF-213 Black Lions and VF-31 Tomcatters had the honours to bring the Tomcat to war (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and to home for the final time. Awesome!