VF-31 “Tomcatters” High Top Canvas Shoes
This design is inspired by the F-14 Tomcats of VF-31 “Tomcatters”. The original “Felix the Cat” squadron was VF-3. After the Battle of Midway, VF-3 and VF-6 swapped designations on 15 July 1943, resulting in a three-year controversy as to which squadron owned the Felix name and emblem until VF-3 was re-designated VF-3A on 15 November 1946, and awarded the official approval to adopt Felix the Cat by the Chief of Naval Operations. VF-3A was then re-designated VF-31 on August 7, 1948.
The emblem and mascot is the famous cartoon character Felix the Cat, running with a large spherical black bomb with a lit fuse. The nickname Tomcatters was adopted in 1948.
