Hobby Master Archive

VF-31 was formed on July 1, 1935 and known as the “Shooting Stars” but later would become the owners of Felix The Cat emblem and in 1948 received the name “Tomcatters”. In early 1981 VF-31 received the Grumman F-14A Tomcat and in 1992 upgraded to the F-14D Super Tomcat. In 2002 VF-31 was onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and heading home from Operation Enduring Freedom when they were ordered back to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom where the Tomcatters flew 585 sorties and dropped 239 LGB/JDAM/Mk 82 bombs.