Operation Enduring Freedom (Aug. 8, 2002) -- An F-14 "Tomcat" assigned to the "Jolly Rogers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) conducts a mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat’s primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets. U.S. Navy photo by Capt. Dana Potts. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Nov. 14, 2002 — An F-14 “Tomcat” assigned to the “Black Knights” of Fighter Squadron One Five Four (VF-154) launches past steaming catapults on the bow of the ship. After an aircraft launches, steam is released as catapult pressure subsides. Kitty Hawk is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)
Tomcat Tuesday! – Episode 3
After a week’s hiatus for the madness and magic of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, we thought we’d start off our return with the third episode of Tomcat Tuesday. Here is another selection of terrific official photographs of our much-missed naval fighter strutting her stuff… alongside the amazing men and women who flew and maintained ‘the last of the Cats.’ Thanks to all of you who’ve been writing in, please keep doing so!
At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Aug. 19, 2002 — Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Brandon Love (left) from Montgomery, Ala., Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Steven Page (center) from Winston-Salem, N.C., and Chief Warrant Officer James Hall, from Chicago, Ill., load an M-61A1 20mm Cannon Gattling Gun in an F-14 “Tomcat,” assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103). Washington is homeported in Norfolk, Va. and is on a six-month deployment conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Matthew Keane. (RELEASED)
Operation Enduring Freedom (Aug. 8, 2002) — An F-14 “Tomcat” assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) conducts a mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat’s primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets. U.S. Navy photo by Capt. Dana Potts. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) July 1, 2002 — Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Aaron Prescod, of Mason Hall, Tobago, and Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jeck Maigue, of Subic Bay, Philippines, conduct painting and preservation maintenance on an F-14D “Tomcat” assigned to the “Jolly Rodgers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103). ). VF 103 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) embarked on board George Washington during a scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jessica Davis. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Apr. 26, 2002 — Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) fly high above USS George Washington. An F-14B “Tomcat” assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) refuels from an S-3 “Viking” assigned to the “Diamond Cutters” of Sea Control Squadron Three Zero (VS-30) while an F/A 18 “Hornet” assigned to the “Rampagers” of Fighter Attack Squadron Eight Three (VFA-83) flies close by. George Washington is based in Norfolk, VA, and is conducting integrated training exercises in the Caribbean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class J. Scott Campbell. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Mar. 27, 2002 — Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Thomas Bokotey, from Hinckley, OH, prepares the tools he needs to inspect the exhaust core inside the port afterburner of an F-14 “Tomcat” fighter aircraft. Kitty Hawk is conducting work-ups in preparation for an upcoming extended underway period and is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Sean M. O’Leary. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Mar. 19, 2002 — An F-14 “Tomcat” Fighter assigned to the “Black Knights” from Fighter Squadron One Five Four (VF-154) comes in for an arrested recovery during flight operations. Kitty Hawk is conducting work-ups in preparation for an upcoming extended underway period, and is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class John E. Woods. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Feb. 18, 2002 — Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Robert Cervantes from San Antonio, TX, and Aviation Ordnancemen Airman Carmen Rivera from Reading, PA, complete installation of a GBU-12 500 pound laser guided bomb on an F-14 “Tomcat” fighter aircraft. Airmen Rivera and Cervantes are assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) and help prepare missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Quinton Jackson. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Jan. 23, 2002 — Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Ruben Guererro (right) from Los Angeles Calif. and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Matt Porter from Bowling Green, Ohio, direct an F-14A “Tomcat” from the “Checkmates” of Fighter Squadron Two One One (VF-211) onto the aircraft catapult for launching from the flight deck. The “Checkmates” are embarked with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) aboard John C. Stennis and are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Jayme Pastoric. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Dec. 24, 2001 — A crew member cleans a canopy on an F-14 “Tomcat” from the “Diamondbacks” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VF-102). The squadron is part of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) deployed on the powered aircraft carrier operating in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Carly Joy Cranston. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sept. 2, 2002 — Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Robert Woodron from Bear Lake, Minn., makes final checks of an F-14 “Tomcat” fighter from “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) before its launch form the flight deck. Washington and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen are on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jessica Davis. (RELEASED)
At sea aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Aug. 30, 2002 — An F-14D “Tomcat” fighter jet assigned to the “Tomcatters” of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) makes a safe arrested landing following a rain storm off the coast Singapore. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Stephen Neel. (RELEASED)
Don’t forget to tune in to WarbirdsNews next Tuesday morning for the next episode of Tomcat Tuesday! We’ll probably to do this for another week or two, then space issues a little further apart so as not to overdo things… mind you, there can never be too many Tomcats, can there?
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
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