VF-111 “Sundowners” Backpack
The VF-111 “Sundowners” was a U.S. Navy fighter squadron with a long history, famously flying the F-14 Tomcat in the 1970s until its disestablishment in 1995. Known for their distinctive red sunburst on the tail fins, VF-111 operated from carriers like the USS Carl Vinson and USS Kitty Hawk. The F-14 Tomcat, with its variable-sweep wings and twin engines, was a versatile aircraft used for air superiority and fleet defense. The Tomcat’s AIM-54 Phoenix missile system made it a formidable long-range interceptor, and VF-111 played a key role in Cold War-era naval operations, including deployments in the Pacific and Persian Gulf.
