On August, 9th, 2001 this VF-2 Bounty Hunter Tomcat went missing in the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean) while flying from USS Constellation on a night-time training mission. Crew presumed killed.

Late afternoon departure off runway 18 by "FELIX 101"

"Vandy 1" the famous all black Tomcat of VX-9, taking off from Pt Mugu

Base to final turn on 24R for this VF-31 CAG Tomcat

"Red Rippers" F-14D blasting off from Miramar winter of 1994

With the introduction of the F-14D VF-124 'Gunfighters' was assigned the role of training air and ground personnel for this type. The first F-14D was accepted by the squadron on the 16th of November 1990, with four of the type undertaking the first fleet F-14D carquals onboard the USS Nimtz (CVN-68) on the 2nd of October 1991.

A Grim Reaper of Fighting Squadron 101 awaiting permission to taxy to the catapult of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during the final Tomcat Carrier Qualifications.

A Grim Reaper caught the Theodore Roosevelt cable and came to rest, after the well known controlled crash. AD-163 was the full colour bird of the squadron, normally this was the double nuts, or AD-100.

The final F-14 Tomcat Qarrier Qualification (CQ) took place in March '05 on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) off coast Virginia. During the CQ, Tomcat crews prepare and qualify themselves in carrier ops. They had to make a certain number of catapult starts, arrested landings, touch-and-goes, and those by day and night. When concluded they are qualified to go on deployment. These crew eventually departed with the CVN-71 to the Persian Gulf that marked the sunset cruise for the F-14. The crews belonged to VF-31 and VF-213 but used aircraft of Fleet Replacement Squadron VF-101 Grim Reapers.

Beautiful painted Tomcat of Fighter squadron (VF) 213 Black Lions on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

There are Tomcats and there are beautiful Tomcats. A classic picture of a towed Tomcat over the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The aircraft was on its way to the the rear of the flight deck where it was positioned for an upcoming morning launch. Many Tomcats were scrapped at AMARG to prevent spare parts feeding to Iran. Luckily, this beauty was relieved from that fate. Since September 2006, 164342 is preserved at the Wings over Miami Museum at Kendall (FL).

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.

[Nikon D300 + Tokina 12-24mm/4]