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I did two Western Pacific tours (West-Pacs) while in the Navy. On the first one in 1979 we had the F-4 Phantoms and on the second one we were introduced to the

I did two Western Pacific tours (West-Pacs) while in the Navy. On the first one in 1979 we had the F-4 Phantoms and on the second one we were introduced to the Tomcat's. For me, this was a mind blowing experience. The F-14 is a very large aircraft. It had electroluminescent exterior lighting that looked straight out of a sci-fi novel and with its differential rear stabilizers it looked like a living machine, especially when landing. I was an electronics tech in a bomber (A6) squadron so I didn't know much about the workings of the aircraft, as mentioned in the article. I will say that I am always in awe when I see that aircraft and will always be.

dctoedt 4y ago
What carrier were you on (and air wing) that still had F-4s in 1979? By the time I got to the Enterprise in early 1976, the embarked air wing, CVW-14, had no F-4s anymore, just F-14s (and A-7s and A-6s, etc.). The article's picture of a Soviet Bear bomber above a carrier, being escorted by armed F-14s flying close aboard, brought back memories of how we were always greeted with a "welcome to WestPac" flyover by a Bear, and we likewise sent up armed F-14s to make sure everyone stayed peaceable. On my first WestPac deployment, one of my roommates in "Boys Town" (an eight-man bunkroom for junior officers, just below the flight deck) was a warrant officer who ran the ship's photo lab; he brought us all 8x10 glossies of a similar photo, taken by the back-seater in one of the F-14s. I still have mine somewhere.
- greedo 4y ago
  I think some Reserve Marine squadrons were operating them up until 1992, so it seems plausible that they were in use at that time.
- b06timmer 4y ago
  I was on the Ranger (CV-61). (https://i.imgur.com/Wma9k84.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Wma9k84.jpg) We also had the Bear's and the trawlers. I think that had a lot to do the spy John Walker Jr.. He gave the Russians the cryptographic codes for the Navy, and they could read all of our communications. That's why the Bear's knew exactly when the carriers were changing station. I was an AT and programmed the "code of the day" into each aircraft, every day. Mode-4, IFF. Edited to add: CVW-2 for airwing. West Coast.

dctoedt 4y ago

What carrier were you on (and air wing) that still had F-4s in 1979? By the time I got to the Enterprise in early 1976, the embarked air wing, CVW-14, had no F-4s anymore, just F-14s (and A-7s and A-6s, etc.). The article's picture of a Soviet Bear bomber above a carrier, being escorted by armed F-14s flying close aboard, brought back memories of how we were always greeted with a "welcome to WestPac" flyover by a Bear, and we likewise sent up armed F-14s to make sure everyone stayed peaceable. On my first WestPac deployment, one of my roommates in "Boys Town" (an eight-man bunkroom for junior officers, just below the flight deck) was a warrant officer who ran the ship's photo lab; he brought us all 8x10 glossies of a similar photo, taken by the back-seater in one of the F-14s. I still have mine somewhere.

greedo 4y ago
I think some Reserve Marine squadrons were operating them up until 1992, so it seems plausible that they were in use at that time.
b06timmer 4y ago
I was on the Ranger (CV-61). (https://i.imgur.com/Wma9k84.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Wma9k84.jpg) We also had the Bear's and the trawlers. I think that had a lot to do the spy John Walker Jr.. He gave the Russians the cryptographic codes for the Navy, and they could read all of our communications. That's why the Bear's knew exactly when the carriers were changing station. I was an AT and programmed the "code of the day" into each aircraft, every day. Mode-4, IFF. Edited to add: CVW-2 for airwing. West Coast.