Hobby Master Archive

The F-14 was first deployed in 1974 and retired in 2006 when the new F/A-18E and F joined the fleet. The first of two Oceana squadrons to accept the F-14 was VF-101 in June 1976. This is the year VF-101 began to operate and instruct crews and other personnel on the F-14. F-14B BuNo 162923 joined VF-101 and became the C/Os aircraft. He had the aircraft painted with bright red markings and other crews named it “Tomato” and appeared in many air shows to display the aircraft capabilities.