Iconic Shot: Last of the Tomcats

(click to enlarge)

"That's right!  Ice... man.  I am dangerous."

Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, an F-14D Tomcat assigned to Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) completes the last ever catapult launch of a Tomcat fighter on July 28, 2006.

Initially deployed in 1974 from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the F-14 replaced the F-4 Phantom II and was utilized as the Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter and fleet defense interceptor.  The F-14 was retired by the United States Navy on September 22, 2006 after 32 years of distinguished service.

Photo taken by Nathan Laird

Mass Communication Specialist, 3rd Class, USN