F-14A Tomcat VF-41 Enterprise 2001

F-14A-135-GR F-14A BuNo 162608 / AJ-100 Operation Enduring Freedom.

- TCS/ALQ-100 chin pod
- ECM blisters under glove vanes and beavertail
- nose alpha probe
- NACA gun vent

VF-41’s aircraft were painted up especially for this cruise to commemorate the last time that they would by flying the F-14 before transitioning onto the F/A-18E. Each aircraft featured the scripting “Last Tomcat Cruise 1976-2001” on the top of the vertical stabilizers with “First to Strike” on the leading edge of the port wing and “First to Fight” in the same position on the starboard wing. Also, in an unusual move for USN aircraft, each of them features a woman’s name on the right hand side of the radome.

CAG Bird called "Anna" with VF-41 on the USS Enterprise. Anna is painted in three greys with a black anti-glare that covers the nose, canopies and turtledeck. Befitting a CAG bird she features a little colour. The tops of the vertical stabilizers are red as is the turbine warning stripe over the fuselage, the intake warnings and ejection seat triangles.

Red also shadows the 100 modex numbers on the nose and the 00 on the vertical stabilizers and the nose undercarriage door. The use of colour continues to the squadron insignia on the outer sides of the vertical stabilizers which cleverly includes the “AJ” of airwing identifier.

The remainder of the markings are in black with the exception of the CAG and DCAG names which are in white to show against the black of the canopy rails. (both sides). The black markings include the national insignia, ships titles, bureau number – in an unusual font, Plane Captain of the Quarter (?) and Seaman of the Year names plus some minor stencilling.