Fast Eagle 102, the first F-14 Tomcat to shoot down another enemy fighter, has undergone restoration via the Navy Flight Deck Veterans Group. The restored aircraft will be unveiled on August 27 at the High Sky Wing CAF Airshow 2016.
From the Commemorative Air Force’s WarBird newsletter:
Commemorative Air Force’s High Sky Wing, based in Midland, Texas was set to begin refurbishing Grumman F-14A Tomcat Bu.160403 on July 27th, 2016. This airframe was the first Tomcat to shoot down another aircraft in combat.
CDR Henry ‘Hank’ Kleemann and LT David ‘DJ’ Venlet of VF-41 flew her as callsign Fast Eagle 102 from the decks of the USS Nimitz during the Gulf of Sidra Incident of August 19th, 1981. The two Naval Aviators splashed the first of two Libyan fighters the US Navy dispatched that day.
The second Libyan SU-22 ‘Fitter’ fell to a Sidewinder missile from another VF-41 Tomcat, Bu.160390 Fast Eagle 107 flown by LT Lawrence ‘Music’ Muczynski and LTJG James ‘Luca’ Anderson.
Members of the Navy Flight Deck Veterans Group have been working on Fast Eagle 102. We are happy to report that they have made great progress. The aircraft will be ready for its formal unveiling during the High Sky Wing CAF Airshow 2016 on Saturday, August 27th as originally promised.
For those of you wishing to attend the unveiling, it will be well worth the effort. A number of significant aviators will be present, including now Vice Admiral David Venlet, US Navy (ret), who will reunite with the Tomcat he flew in as a young Radar Intercept Officer during the famous encounter with the Libyan ‘Fitters’ over the Gulf of Sidra.
In an interesting development, a pair of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters from the current VFA-41 will also be on hand, flanking their older sister during the event. This should make for a remarkable photographic opportunity!
Fast Eagle 102 before restoration.
The CAF is a group of passionate Warbirds enthusiasts who love the history and technology Aviation Museums preserve for the public. It is our intention to play a role in safeguarding the heritage of these beautiful machines by providing increased awareness and education through the use of internet based digital media.
The CAF High Sky Wing is continuing to accept donations to help with the restoration project on Fast Eagle 102. Contributions can be made out to CAF High Sky Wing, and sent to the following address: CAF High Sky Wing F-14 Project, P.O. Box 61064, Midland. TX 79711. For more information contact: [email protected] or 432-528-0997.
Top photo credit: Fast Eagle 102, one of the two F-14 Tomcats on the deck of the USS Nimitz immediately following the incident. (Image via Wikipedia)