Above the United States - (May 31, 2003) - An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Bounty Hunters" of Fighter Squadron Two (VF-2), heads back to their home base of Naval Air Station Oceana after a successful seven month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. In formation with the Bounty Hunters Tomcat is their new aircraft, the F/A-18F Super Hornet. VF-2 will be transiting to the Super Hornet when they make a homeport change to Naval Air Station Lemoore and will become Strike Fighter Squadron Two (VFA-2). U.S. Navy Photo. (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 11, 2005) ? An F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the ?Blacklions? of assigned to the ?Blacklions? of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf-region. VF-213 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Aircraft assigned to CVW-8 are currently supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rob Tabor (RELEASED)

(1) 030411-N-0780F-053 (2) Northern Iraq (Apr. 11, 2003) -- A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), flies a combat mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (3) 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. (4) U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley

At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sept. 24, 2002. Lieutenant West McCall F-14 pilot from Deland, Fla., and Lieutenant Kimberly Arrington, a Radar Intercept Officer from King, N.C., of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF 103) "Jolly Rogers," test fire a Phoenix air to air missile as part of an Annual Proficiency exercise. McCall and Arrington are assigned to Fighter Squadron 103, based in Oceana, Va. The Norfolk, Va.-based nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is participating in Exercise Med Shark during a scheduled six-month deployment. (U. S. Navy photo by Captain Dana Potts.)

Persian Gulf (Oct. 24, 2005) ? A F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the ?Blacklions? of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), prepares to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, during a mission over the Persian Gulf region. Two F/A-18C Hornets, assigned to the ?Golden Warriors? of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Seven (VFA-87), also wait their turn for aerial fueling. VF-213 and VFA-87 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Scott Timmester (RELEASED)

(1) 030411-N-0780F-057 (2) Northern Iraq (Apr. 11, 2003) -- A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), receives fuel from an Air National Guard Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker during a combat mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Stratotanker, assigned to the 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, California, is currently forward deployed to a European operating base . (3) During aerial refueling operations, nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailed behind the flying boom, is used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. In the early-1990s, a feasibility study was undertaken to fit the KC-135R with wing pods for the refueling of probe-equipped aircraft from U.S. and foreign services. (4) U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley