Hobby Master Archive

In 1991 Grumman F-14A Tomcat 162603 NE-103 was assigned to VF-1 “Wolfpack” during Operation Desert Storm. On February 6 1991 it launched from the USS Ranger and intercepted an Iraqi MI-8. The F-14 carried four AIM-9s and four AIM-7s plus 700 high-explosive 20mm bullets but the radar was unserviceable. This meant the Tomcat had no computer assistance with the weapons and had to be pointed directly at the target but they managed to down the MI-8. This F-14 was lost in 2000 due to a bad CAT Shot but both crew members were rescued.