Mission: To Preserve the History of the Greatest Fighter Jet the United States Navy Has Ever Flown.

Dear Tomcat Flyers, Fixers, and Fans

The 2015 reunion is fast approaching! We are 6 weeks from launch time in beautiful Pensacola Florida. A few details have been added to the agenda below, but I urge to register, and get your hotel and airline reservations now. Six weeks out is the best time to book, so don’t delay.

First, I am proud and excited to announce that the planned speaker at the Saturday banquet is RADM Mike “Nasty” Manazir. A west coast Tomcat driver who went on to command the Tomcatters of Fighter Squadron, USS Sacramento (AOE1), USS Nimitz (CVN68) and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Nasty is currently the Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98) where he is responsible for the development, programming, and budgeting of all U.S. Naval aviation warfighting requirements, resourcing and manpower. He is/was qualified in the F-14A/D and F/A-18E/F aircraft and has flown more than 3750 hours and 1200 arrested landings during 15 deployments aboard aircraft carriers on both coasts. I can’t think of a better person to talk to us about the state of Naval Aviation than RADM Mike Manazir.

Second, I want to thank Training Air Wing SIX Commodore, Captain Ted “Tag” Heflin. Tag spent 12 years in the Tomcat community with VF-102, SWATSLANT, VF-32, and VF-103. As the current Commodore at Pensacola, Tag has graciously volunteered to support our group with special events on base on both Wednesday, after the Blue Angel’s practice, and Friday afternoon, with a TW-6 winging ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum atrium where RDML Roy "Trigger" Kelley, CNATRA -- a former Tomcat pilot and VF-102 CO -- is the planned guest speaker for the winging ceremony, to be followed by a TW-6 winging Ceremony reception at the Mustin Beach Club. Those that prefer may continue to tour the museum until time to return to the hotel.

The panel discussions promise to be very lively. Tom Reilly is confirmed to tell the story of aircraft#1’s fateful last flight, and we are organizing other panels that promise to be both interesting and stimulating.

Hampton Inn and Suites on Pensacola Beach
Room Reservations: 1-800-320-8108
(Ask for Group Reservations – F-14 Association)
Gulf Front with Balcony – $179, South Side Rooms - $149

The current flight schedule is:

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
Early arrival check-in at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Pensacola Beach
1800-2000  Happy hour at the Hampton Inn

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015
1130 Blue Angel practice show onboard NAS Pensacola ( Schedule varies)
1200-1800 Reunion Registration in hotel lobby at the Hampton Inn
1230-1430 TW-6 hosted brief/tour of current CNATRA training (T-6/T-45 static displays and tour of VMTS/MCS simulators) and VT-86 Ready Room social
1600-1800 Welcome Aboard Happy Hour
1800-2000 F-14 Association Reunion Welcome Reception

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
0700-0830 Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn
0900 Board trolleys for tour of Historic Downtown Pensacola
1030 Memorial Service at the Veteran's Memorial Park with the NAS Color Guard
1115 Lunch at  McGuire's Irish Pub  with the Color Guard
1330 Board trolleys for the Hampton Inn
1400 Arrive back at the Hampton Inn
1630

Happy Hour and Panel Discussion
Session #1 – Review of the loss of Aircraft #1, presented by Tom Reilly
Session #2 – Maintenance tales
Session #3 – Aircrew Tales (topics are still being developed, but include combat operations, early testing stories, and cruise highlights)

2000

Squadron reunions/group dinners as desired

 

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
0700-0830 Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn
0830 Board trolley for NAS Pensacola
0900 Arrive at the National Naval Aviation Museum -- Guided tour of the Museum
1045 Group Picture
1100 Lunch at the Cubi Bar inside the Museum
1200 Free time to browse in Hangar Bay One
1250 IMAX movie
1400-1500 TW-6 winging ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum
1400 Optional - Tour of the virtual flight deck and the museum's upstairs
1500 - 1600 Optional - TW-6 winging Ceremony reception at the Mustin Beach Club
1615 Board trolley for return to the Hampton Inn
1645 Trolley arrives at the Hampton Inn
Evening Pub Crawl in Downtown Pensacola and time for mini Squadron Reunions

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015
0700-0900 Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn
0800-0900 General Business Meeting
0930 Board trolley for the Marina
1000 Board the Chase N Fins
1200 Arrive back at the Marina
1215 Picnic lunch at the Marina
1300 Board trolley for return to the Hampton Inn
1330 Trolley arrives at the Hampton Inn
1800 Trolley leaves for the Officer's Club onboard NAS Pensacola
1830

Arrival at the Mustin Beach Club and banquet dinner
Guest Speaker:  Senior Naval Aviation Flag Officer

2100 Trolley leaves for the Hampton Inn                 

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015
0700-0900 Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn
1200 Check-out from the Hampton Inn

 

Please help us get the word out. Send this email to all of your friends and squadron-mates.

Sincerely/ Mike “Rabies” Rabens
President, F-14 Tomcat Association
Always, Baby

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Your Board of Directors is:

Captain Mike "Rabies" Rabens (USN Ret.) – President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Captain Mark "Beaver" Swaney (USN Ret.) - Vice President and Acting Secretary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Captain Rob "Udog" Underwood (USNR Ret.) – Treasurer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Captain Jim "Crunch" Hineline (USN) - Fleet Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave "Hey Joe" Parsons - East Coast Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Commander Bryan "Spot" Kust (USN Ret.) - West Coast Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AMS Mike O'Brien - Maintainer Representative, West This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ADJ Jamie Barnhard - Maintainer Representative, East This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mission: To Preserve the History of the Greatest Fighter Jet the United States Navy Has Ever Flown.

Random Tales