Tomcat Crews Gradually Turned Fighter Squadron Videos Into a True Art Form
Fighter Fling. The mere mention of the moniker elicits fond memories for all who flew, crewed, and maintained Grumman’s Fleet Defender, the F-14 Tomcat. We’ve featured Fighter Fling videos before, particularly the very last one produced (in 2004) and the last few that were produced (between 2000 and 2004). Best-selling author and former Tomcat RIO Ward Carroll was one of the driving forces behind the production of the first Fighter Flings. Before we showcase those first few Fighter Flings, let’s watch Carroll’s take on how they got their start. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Ward Carroll.
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Fighter Fling 1989
1989 started off with VF-32 Swordsmen chalking up a Navy-2, Libya-0 score when they splashed a pair of Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-23 Flogger fighters over the Gulf of Sidra. Flying GYPSY 202 (F-14A BuNo 159437) that day was pilot LT Hermon Cook with RIO LCDR Stephen Collins. Flying GYPSY 207 (F-14A BuNo 159610) was VF-32 squadron CO CDR Joseph Connelly along with RIO CDR Leo Enright from the Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) staff. The 1989 Fighter Fling video was uploaded to YouTube by cmtecarvalho.
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Fighter Fling 1990
1990 began with the first F-14D model Tomcats reaching the Fleet. 1990 was also about Operation Desert Shield. But even before the 90s began, F-14 squadrons VF-191 Satan’s Kittens and VF-194 Red Lightnings were disestablished (in 1988). The 1990 version of the Fighter Fling video was uploaded to YouTube by Bydlo.
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Fighter Fling 1991
Well Fighter Fling 1991 should have been one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, Fighter Flings ever. After all, Tomcats had gone to war during Operation Desert Storm. But Fighter Fling 1991 never got off the ground. Because Tailhook 1991. And the first F-14Ds were delivered during 1991. Just to make the point there’s this video uploaded to YouTube by Triple Nickel.
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