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Following the end of OPERATION DESERT STORM until the start of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, several smaller scale but nonetheless significant operations took place involving the participation of Tomcat squadrons. OPERATIONS PROVIDE COMFORT, SOUTHERN WATCH, and NORTHERN WATCH utilized Tomcats to patrol the no-fly zones put in place following Desert Storm. F-14 sorties included combat air patrol, TARPS reconnaissance, and air interdiction.
In the Balkans, Tomcats assigned to VF-41 took part in OPERATION DELIBERATE FORCE form August 30 to September 20, 1995. On September 5, 1995, the first laser guided bomb was dropped from a Tomcat during combat operations. A pair of VF-41 F-14s were assigned to attack an ammunition dump in eastern Bosnia. Because the F-14A had yet to be cleared to carry the LANTIRN pod, the target was “buddy” lased by an F/A-18C Hornet. The occasion also signified the first delivery of air-to-ground munitions by a Tomcat engaged in combat operations.
On December 16, 1998, F-14Bs assigned to VF-32 took part in the opening phase of OPERATION DESERT FOX. The four-day bombing campaign was an attempt to force Iraq to comply with UN resolutions and inspectors. The combat debut of the F-14D Super Tomcat was made on December 19, 1998 when VF-213 joined the strike packages. DESERT FOX marked the first combat use of the LANTIRN pod and Night Vision Googles by an F-14. The Tomcats of VF-32 alone delivered over 111,000lb of munitions including 16 GBU-16, 16 GBU-10 and 26 GBU-24 laser guided bombs. On January 5, 1999, VF-213 Tomcats engaged Iraqi MiG-23s and a lone MiG-25. Two AIM-54C Phoenix missiles were launched at the MiG-25, marking the first combat launch of this long-range missile by US Navy Tomcats.
In addition to supporting OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, the Tomcats of VF-41 were back flying combat missions over the Balkans from April 9 through June 9, 1999. This time, they were joined by VF-14 for OPERATION ALLIED FORCE. Flying from the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), both squadrons participated in air strikes as well as conducting TARPS reconnaissance and acting as Forward Air Controllers. This entire campaign was fought from the air and the last bombs of this conflict were delivered by a VF-41 Tomcat.
When New York’s Twin Towers were brought down in a terror attack on September 11, 2001, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was steaming for home having completed its final OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH mission on September 9. The Enterprise Battle Group soon made a 180-turn heading back to the North Arabian Gulf. They were joined by USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with VF-213’s F-14Ds aboard. On October 7, 2001, four VF-213 Tomcats led the first Navy air strikes of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Armed with GBU-16 or GBU-12 laser guided bombs plus one AIM-54C Phoenix, two AIM-7M Sparrows and two AIM9L Sidewinders, these F-14D were launched weighing a whopping 72,000lbs each! Meanwhile, the F-14As of VF-14 were leading a strike on the Afghan capital, Kabul, attacking a warning and
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