F-14 Tomcats at the

NAS Oceana Airshow 

photos taken by Jeremy Gould on Sept 24-26 2004 

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After some grovelling to the wife, I finally got permission to attend the NAS Oceana Airshow between the 24th and 26th September 2004. My quest began in the early part of this year and as I live in the UK, you can imagine the quantity and quality of the sycophancy that I had to and was willing to produce. Luckily, it paid off.

 

My primary reason for going was to catch as many Tomcats on film (yes film) as I could. F-14’s are rare birds in the UK and are soon to become extinct worldwide. As I know how much modellers above others appreciate the ability to find references, I thought it would be good to share my experience with you.

 

My flight from London Heathrow landed in the early evening at Dulles, Washington on the 23rd September. After picking up my rental car, I had the enviable task of driving about 200 miles to Virginia Beach whilst remembering to drive on the right hand side of the road (back in 2000 I was lucky enough to be able to weave my family holiday around the show at Oceana, so the territory was not entirely new to me). As the UK is five hours ahead of Virginia, my body clock was on 04:00 by the time I got to my hotel.

 

I woke up early on the Friday morning (24th) for the short drive to NAS Oceana. Here is a record of the Tomcats I managed to snare.

 

The Gate Guards

F-14A BuNo 157988

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F-14D BuNo 164604 (due to replace the above F-14A in the historical park in the near future). Previously known as 'Vandy 1' and based at Point Mugu.

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F-14A BuNo 158612. Located on Oceana Blvd.

The F-14 Squadrons

VF-11 Red Rippers - assigned to CVW-7

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F-14B, AG/200, BuNo 163227

 

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F-14B, AG/201, BuNo 162912 F-14B, AG/202, BuNo 161418 F-14B, AG-204, BuNo 163218

 

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F-14B, AG-205, BuNo 162927 F-14B, AG-206, BuNo 162925 F-14B, AG-207, BuNo 161437

 

VF-31 Tomcatters  - assigned to CVW-14

Deployed at the time of the show, flying the F-14D from the deck of the USS John C Stennis (CVN-74) on the last Tomcat WESTPAC.

 

VF-32 Swordsmen - assigned to CVW-3

 

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F-14B, AC/102, BuNo 162692 F-14B, AC/103, BuNo 162915 F-14B, AC/104, BuNo 163410

 

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F-14B, AC/105, BuNo 163216

F-14B, AC/110, BuNo 162703

F-14B, AC/111, BuNo 161428

F-14B, AC/114, BuNo 161424

 

VF-101 Grim Reapers (FRS/RAG)

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F-14B, AD/101, BuNo 162920

F-14B, AD/102, BuNo 162691

F-14B, AD/103, BuNo 161426

 

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F-14B, AD/105, BuNo 161433

F-14B, AD/107, BuNo 162910

 

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F-14D, AD/161, BuNo 163897

 

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F-14D, AD/163, BuNo 163414

F-14D, AD/164 BuNo 164342

F-14D, AD/165, BuNo 164345

 

VF-103 Jolly Rogers - assigned to CVW-17

Deployed at the time of the show, flying the F-14B from the USS John F Kennedy (CV-67).

 

VF-143 Pukin’ Dogs - assigned to CVW-7

 

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F-14B, AG/103, BuNo 161421

 

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F-14B, AG/102, BuNo 162921

F-14B, AG/105, BuNo 162926

F-14B, AG/107, BuNo 162700

 

VF-211 Checkmates – assigned to CVW-1

VF-211 had just given up their last aircraft earlier in September and had the honour of being the last F-14A squadron. The Checkmates were undergoing transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet at NAS Lemoore, CA and are to become VFA-211 and rejoin CVW-1.

 

VF-211 Transport

 

VF-213 Black Lions - assigned to CVW-8

 

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F-14D, AJ/100, BuNo 164602

F-14D, AJ/101, BuNo 164341

F-14D, AJ/107, BuNo 161166

 

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F-14D, AJ/112, BuNo 164349

F-14D, AJ/213, BuNo 164347

 

I drove back to Dulles on Monday 27th September in time to catch my flight back to London in the evening.

 

Thanks must go to Troy Snead (PAO NAS Oceana) who kindly put me down for a media pass for the show weekend. This allowed me access to the daytime Friday show that would have otherwise only been accessible by DOD employees and their families.

 

Thanks must also go to the Association of Naval Aviation whose hospitality chalet and amenities was much appreciated by this member from the UK.

 

Camera Equipment Used:

Nikon F65 with Sigma 50-500mm EX HSM lens.

Nikon F55 with Nikkor 28-100mm G lens.

Pictures were taken with Fuji Reala 100 and Superia 200 film.

Jeremy

Photos and text © by Jeremy Gould