[SandRat]

Pensacola, Fla. (April 13, 2006) - The last F-14 Tomcat aircraft to fly a combat mission arrives on board Sherman Field at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The F-14D aircraft bureau number 161159, was assigned to the Black Lions of Fighter Squadron Two One three (VF-213), as part of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), embarked aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The aircraft will become a display aircraft at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Gary Nichols (RELEASED)

[SandRat]

F-14's pass from the scene!

[zarf]

Outside of the Libyan incident, did this thing ever have air to air combat?

[sasportas]

This is sad. Lot of history here.

Gruman has a long colorful history with their WW2 "cat" series of great fighters. The wildcat, hellcat, and now the tomcat. I hope this isn't Gruman's last contribution.

[Non-Sequitur]

“Bittersweet,” is how Lt. Cmdr. Mark Stufflebeem, the aircraft’s pilot, referred to the final mission.

Wonder if he's any relation to ComSixthFlt?

[jch10]

The museum at Pensacola NAS is a wonderful place to visit. I haven't been there in a number of years but there was no admission price back then.
If you are in the area, make plans to spend a day reviewing naval and aviation history.