Show Notes
This episode provides the full story of the F-14D, sometimes known as the Super Tomcat, as only “Jungle” Jones can tell it. The D-model brought powerful engines and many other improved systems to the fight, and our guest enthusiastically reports on their effectiveness.
Jungle was an F-14D pilot and TOPGUN instructor who takes us into his combat missions as well as training dogfights where he surprised many friendly fighters who didn’t realize what the ultimate Tomcat could do.
A great story-teller, Jungle holds nothing back in reporting on the problems experienced when the F-14D was new, but mostly its strengths when put to the test. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from F-14 Tomcast
This is the 26th and final episode of the F-14 Tomcast season 1.
It is said that all good things come to an end, and so it was with the Tomcat’s service.
Coalition combat returned to Iraq in 2003 with Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Among US Navy forces were the Bounty Hunters of VF-2, which brought F-14D Tomcats to the fight. This episode goes into detail on the big fighter’s performance in a challenging threat environment.
In response to the 9/11 terror attacks, American and coalition forces commenced combat operations in Afghanistan with conventional operations commencing 7 October 2001. It was an incredible period in history, and our guest was a key participant.
The AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missile was a major part of the F-14 program: it affected the Tomcat’s design and was the weapon that gave the Tomcat its unique and most impressive capabilities.