This early Crusader entered service in June 1958 with VF-174 at NAS Cecil Field, FL in a training capacity. For 18 months from November 1960 it was assigned to VF-11 also at Cecil but deployed aboard USS Franklin D Roosevelt between February and October 1961, spending much of that time shore-based at Rota, Spain. In April 1962 it briefly returned to VF-174 before transfer to VU-2 at NAS Oceana, VA. Flown to the NAM at Pensacola in 1971 and presented as a VF-24 aircraft

In 1975, this Tomcat entered service with VF-24. It was also operated by VF-114 (1980), VF-211, and VF-124. The Tomcat returned to VF-24 in August 1994 where it received this paint scheme. Already within two months, the aircraft was withdrawn from use, on 8 October 1994.

"RAGE 11" F-14A on short final at it's home field, NAS Miramar

A grey packed Cat flight line at Miramar. After VF-24, this Tomcat served VF-213, VF-1 and VF-111 before it went to Fleet Replacement Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP) at Miramar in 1995. It was then moved to Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (FL), overhauled and assigned to VF-211 by 1997 and later assigned to VF-41. This squadron said farewell to 161294, it was withdrawn from use in 2000, stored at NAS Oceana (VA) and eventually stricken and scrapped by early 2003.

After service with VF-24, this Tomcat was assigned to VF-154, VF-21 and VX-9. It was withdrawn from use at Point Mugu (CA), received a Stricken Aircraft Reclamation and Disposal Program (SARDIP) in 1998, was moved to the Hollywoord Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) studios. The F-14A was used for some movie clips. Thereafter, it was moved to HVF West at Tuscon (AZ) in 1999. The Tomcat was subsequently scrapped.

Photographer: Duane Kasulka. Vietnam War squadron victory scoreboard on ventral fin.

Photographer: Richard Sullivan. Squadron Vietnam War victory scoreboard on ventral fin.

163409 Camel Smoker 163411 Thief of Bagdad c/n: 595

163225 was delivered to the US Navy in July 1986, it was later redesignated from F-14A+ to F-14B. The Cat VF-24 (as pictured), VF-101, VF-103, VF-102, was modified to F-14B(U) by October 2000 and ended its operational career with VF-102. It was then transferred to FRS VF-101 and withdrawn from use at Oceana in early 2004. The F-14B(U) was most probably scrapped by early August 2004.

A Fighting Renegades F-14B+ captured low over the NAS Miramar (CA) runway. The F-14B Block 150 was ordered in fiscal year 1987 and VF-24 was its first user. The squadron was equipped with the upgraded Tomcat from 1989 to 1992. But there were too less F-14Bs and other squadrons received higher priority, so the Renegades transitioned back to F-14A. This 163226 became an F-14B Avionics Upgrade test aircraft with VX-9 Det Point Mugu ('codes XF-241) from July 1996. It was stored in November 2004 at AMARC as AN1K0152 and scrapped by HVF West in September 2008.

RAGE 200 F-14A on short final to 24R at NAS Miramar

RAGE 203 F-14A taxiing at the 1986 Miramar show

'RAGE 210' F-14A VF-24 is turning short final for runway 24R

VF-24 "Renegades" F-14A taxis past to runway 24

This VF-24 was photographed in August 1987 during its landing at homebase NAS Miramar (CA). The Fighting Renegades transitioned from F-8 Crusader to the F-14A Tomcat and received their first aircraft on 9 December 1975 and swapped the Alpha for Bravo's in April 1989. The squadron was eventually disestablished on 31 August 1996.

A Fighter Squadron 24 "Checkertails" F-14A during a steep approach to homebase NAS Miramar (CA). The VF-24 bird (F-14A-Block 85-GR) was the 15th F-14A that was remanufactured to F-14D, as a result it received the designation F-14D(R). The Tomcat was stricken with VF-31 on 13 January 1995 when it was involved in a mid-air collision with F-14D 164340 over the Pacific Ocean, south of San Diego. The crew was rescued by a SH-60F from HS-8 and a nearby operating US Marine Corps CH-53E.