The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, target acquisition, ECM and weapons usage. The Tomcat was operated by the United States Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name Tomcat is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.
In August 1948 VF-193 was established. In October 1963 the squadron transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II and was re-designated VF-142 Ghostriders. In January 1974 VF-142 deployed with the USS America returning in August 1974 to begin a transition to the Grumman F-14A. In April 1975 VF-142 moved to NAS Oceana, Virginia from NAS Miramar, Florida. VF-142 would sail on the USS America until August 1978 when they transferred to the USS D.D. Eisenhower. F-14A msn 115 was produced in 1975 and was sent to AMARC in 1992.