"Vectoring to Zone Five" |
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| VF-114 was established in July 1950, when VF-192 became the VF-114 “Executioners”. During the Korean War, VF-114 flew the F4U Corsair, then transitioned from piston engine to jet fighters, when it began flying the F9F Panther. The squadron soon thereafter began flying the F2H Banshee. In 1961, VF-114 became the first Pacific Fleet Squadron to transition to the new McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Many of the pilots saw a resemblance between the F-4 Phantom II and the BC Comics cartoon character “Zot”, which inspired the squadron to change the name from Executioners to Aardvarks. The squadron pilots were also known for flying in bright orange flight suits, which matched the color of the squadron’s Aardvark logo and the markings on the planes. Between 1961 and 1976, VF-114 made five combat missions to Vietnam and shot down five enemy MiGs. |
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Original Painting 36" x 24" - Acrylic on Canvas |
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| The squadron transitioned from the F-4 Phantom to the F-14A Tomcat (specifications) and was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 11 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). After two cruises aboard the USS America (CV-66), the squadron deployed aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), where it participated in combat air patrol over the “Line of Death” off of Libya. The Aardvarks later flew missions over the burning oil fields in Kuwait and the southern no-fly zone of Iraq after Operation Desert Storm. The squadron was decommissioned in April 1993. |
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| Commissioned for VF-114 Commanding Officer. |
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| F14 Tomcats breaking the sound barrier are featured in the lithograph "Shock Waves". |
