Pacific Tomcat

One of the key combat aircraft during the Cold War and beyond, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a US Navy fleet air defense interceptor designed to defend carrier battle groups from long-range enemy bombers and defeat enemy fighters at close range. Although it was built as a pure fighter, the F-14 evolved into a potent strike-fighter late in its career. The first F-14 Tomcat arrived for operational service with the Pacific Fleet in 1974 and eventually replaced the F-4 Phantom as the premier...
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One of the key combat aircraft during the Cold War and beyond, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a US Navy fleet air defense interceptor designed to defend carrier battle groups from long-range enemy bombers and defeat enemy fighters at close range. Although it was built as a pure fighter, the F-14 evolved into a potent strike-fighter late in its career. The first F-14 Tomcat arrived for operational service with the Pacific Fleet in 1974 and eventually replaced the F-4 Phantom as the premier fighter for the Navy. During its three decades of service in the Pacific Fleet, the Tomcat patrolled international waters, intercepted enemy aircraft, participated in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and struck targets in support of Iraqi Freedom. Pacific Tomcat is a stunning pictorial record. Within these pages, you will see a trove of exceptional photographs depicting all F-14 squadrons that flew in the Pacific Fleet. This book presents nearly 200 large format color photographs that show the Tomcat in action throughout its time of service, most of which were taken from private photo collections and association archives. Pacific Tomcat also provides detailed carrier air wing and squadron summaries. Meticulously researched, the narrative includes a chronological summary of every major F-14 Pacific Fleet deployment. This volume is a true indispensable reference for veterans, enthusiasts, historians, and model builders alike.