The F-14A Tomcat was the United States Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance. The aircraft was originally designed as the successor of the F-4 Phantom in the fleet defense roll. The aircraft was designed to provide the Fleet with a Mach 2.0 (twice the speed of sound) air superiority fighter capable of fleet defense at both long and short range.

The aircraft was the 59th built and the 57th to be delivered to the Navy on February 20, 1974. It first served with the VF-1 "Wolfpack" aboard the USS Enterprise from May 1974 through July 1976. During this time, the aircraft flew missions during a WestPac cruise under the code name Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam. This makes the Tomcat a true Vietnam veteran.

The F-14A Tomcat was transferred to the training squadron VF-124 "Gunfighters" in July of 1976 where it spent approximately 1 year. In June of 1977, it was transferred to VF-2 "Bounty Hunters", the sister squadron to VF-1 aboard the Enterprise again. While it was with the VF-2, this aircraft also flew off the USS Ranger and USS Kitty Hawk.

The Tomcat's combat initiation occurred in a successful encounter with Libyan Air Force Sukhoi Fighters in August 1981. The F-14 has undergone considerable upgrading and modification during its life and has been continuously tested at Patuxent River since 1972. The mission expansion of this aircraft includes tactical air reconnaissance and delivery of laser guided air-to-ground weapons and it also ensures the Tomcat's value to the Fleet well into the 21st century.