The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a U.S. Navy carrier-based, two-seat, variable-sweep-wing air-superiority fighter that later took on strike and reconnaissance roles. Built by Grumman for long-range fleet defense, it became one of the Navy's signature interceptors and remained in combat use from the Gulf of Sidra through Iraq and Afghanistan before U.S. retirement in 2006.
F-14s made a brief appearance over Vietnam, flying protective patrols for helicopters during the final evacuation of American personnel and other foreign nationals.
F-14 reconnaissance flights over Beirut were fired upon during the Lebanon crisis connected to the 1982 Lebanon War.
Tomcats scored the type's first combat victory when U.S. Navy F-14s shot down two Libyan Su-22 fighters over the Gulf of Sidra in 1981.
Iranian F-14s flew air patrols during the Iran-Iraq War, including the Tanker War phase over the Persian Gulf.
F-14 Tomcats flew combat missions during Desert Storm and provided TARPS reconnaissance and strike support over Kuwait and Iraq.
Tomcats were dispatched for Operation Southern Watch sorties after Iraqi jets violated the no-fly zone over Iraq.
F-14A Tomcats launched from USS Theodore Roosevelt for strike missions in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995.
F-14 Tomcats launched from Theodore Roosevelt to conduct strike missions in support of Operation Allied Force over Kosovo.
F-14s flew combat missions over Afghanistan from 2001 until retirement, including the opening strikes of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Tomcats flew combat missions in Iraq during the 2003-2011 war and supported the 2004 fighting around Fallujah with guided-bomb attacks.
Timeline
U.S. Navy F-14s shot down two Libyan Su-22 fighters over the Gulf of Sidra, giving the Tomcat its first combat victories.
Sources: F-14A Tomcat - NHHC
F-14A Tomcats launched from USS Theodore Roosevelt for strike missions in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Sources: Bosnia - NHHC
F-14 Tomcats launched from Theodore Roosevelt to conduct strike missions during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo.
Sources: Kosovo - NHHC
F-14s began combat missions over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sources: Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-2002
The last deployed F-14 combat cruise ended as the type completed its final combat mission and moved toward U.S. retirement.
Sources: F-14D Tomcat - NHHC
