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OPERATION EARNEST WILL, better known as the “Tanker War” took place between July 1987 and September 1988. While performing Combat Air Patrol, a pair of F-14As assigned to VF-21 launched three AIM-7 Sparrow missiles against a pair of Iranian F-4 Phantoms displaying hostile intent toward a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion. Although an explosion was witnessed, the shoot-down of either Iranian F-4 Phantom could be confirmed.
On January 4, 1989, another aerial engagement took place between Libyan Air Force jets and US Navy aircraft. This time the players involved were a pair of MiG-23 Floggers and a pair of F-14As, 159437 and 159610, assigned to VF-32 and flying from the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This engagement lasted a total of eight minutes and resulted in both Libyan fighters shot down using AIM-9 Sidewinders.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait two carrier battle groups built around the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and the USS Independence (CV-62) were the first U.S. assets available to prevent a further push by Iraq into Saudi Arabia. Combined, the two carriers were equipped with four Tomcat squadrons, VF-143, VF-142, VF-154 and VF-21. These carriers and air wings were rotated out late in OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and relieved by ten Tomcat squadrons consisting of VF-1 and VF-2, USS Ranger (CV-61); VF-14 and VF-32, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67); VF-41 and VF-84, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71); VF-33 and VF-102, USS America (CV-66); and VF-74 and VF-103, USS Saratoga (CV-60). During OPERATION DESERT STORM, F-14A/A+ Tomcats flew more than 1,400 sorties involving tactical reconnaissance with TARPS, fleet defense, protection of strike packages and combat air patrol. Regarding the latter, the Tomcat did not enjoy the same success as its USAF counterpart, the F-15C Eagle. Only one aerial victory was scored by a Tomcat. On February 9, 1991, F-14A 162603, assigned to VF-1, downed an Iraqi M-8 helicopter with an AIM-9. One Tomcat was lost in combat when F-14A+ 161430 was downed with a modified SA-2 surface-to-air missile on January 21, 1991. The pilot, Lt Devon Jones was rescued and his RIO, Lt Lawrence Randolph, was captured and held as a POW until the end of the war.
F-14D 164604 was the last Tomcat manufactured. It was delivered on July 10, 1992, and spent it flying career assigned to test and evaluation duties. During its service life it only accumulated 2652 flight hours, no catapult launches and only 9 arrested landings, all field arrestments. It was photographed on October 25, 2002 participating in Cope Snapper, an air-to-air exercise flown from NAS Key West. It has served as a Gate Guardian at NAS Oceana, since touching down there, June 26, 2004. It was officially stricken on July 16, 2004. (Photo: USAF/SSgt. Shane A. Cuomo)