TOP GUN F-14 VF-111 SUNDOWNER FLIGHT SUIT INSIGNIA BDG

The squadron began flying the F-14 Tomcat in October 1978. After transitioning to the Tomcat, the Sundowners made two deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). VF-111 also participated in efforts to free 55 Americans held hostage in Iran while deployed aboard Kitty Hawk.
In preparation for another deployment in 1990, VF-111 deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson from Sept. to Now. 1989 as participants in PACEX 89. This landmark exercise had the Sundowners operating in hte Bering Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan as a part of the largest naval exercise since World War II.
The Sundowners next deployment began in early Feb. 1990 and ended 29 July 1990. While deployed, VF-111 participated in a Battle Group Evaluation in Hawaiian waters, multi-national interoperability exercises in the frigid Sea of Japan during Team Spirit 1990 and intensive Air Combat Maneuvering with the Checkertails of VC-5 in Cubi Point, Philippines. This was followed by a two and a half month period in the Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea while undergoing training exercises with the Air Forces of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and a successful Weapons Week off Diego Garcia.
On Oct. 15, 1991 VF-111 returned to the familiar flight deck of USS Kitty Hawk. Departing Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia, VF-111 and USS Kitty Hawk began a two month cruise "around the horn" of South America ot North Island Naval Air Station, CA the new home for USS Kitty Hawk. Port visits during the deployment included St.Thomas, Virgin Islands, Mar Del Plata, Argentina and Valparaiso,Chile . Multi-national exercises with Venezuela, Argentina and Chile were conducted in various air-to-air and strike scenarios. The Sundowners returned to NAS Miramar on Dec. 11, 1991. Various deployments followed until the Sundowners of VF-111 were finally disestablished in March 1995.