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.
VF-102 “Diamondbacks” was established on July 1, 1955 VA-36 and almost immediately re-designated VF-102. In June 1994 VF102 re-equipped with the F-14B. From September 19, 2002 until March 27, 2002 VF-102 embarked onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom”. During “OEF” VF-102 flew 5,000 combat missions, dropped 680 bombs and guided 50,000 pounds of precision guided munitions dropped by other aircraft. Returning home after 159 days at sea VF-102 began conversion to the F/A-18F. In 2003 F-14B was transferred to VF101.