I though I'd start a new thread just for this. If anyone does not allready know I've been in the Navy for 15 year and worked with Tomcats the whole time but, that time is up. Today @ 1215 they VF-31 and VF-213 brought the Tomcats home to NAS Oceana a final time.
1st thing is a poem read at Navy retirements-

Aye mates,
For many years, this Sailor stood the watch ...
While some of us lay about our bunks at night,
This Sailor stood the watch.

While others of us were attending schools,
This Sailor stood the watch.

And yes, even before many of us were born,
This Sailor stood the watch.

As our families watched the storm clouds of war,
brewing on the horizons of history,
He stood the watch.

This Sailor looked ashore and saw his family ...
Often needing his guidance but he knew he must stay,
Because he had the watch.

For many years he has stood the watch,
So that we and our countrymen could sleep soundly, in safety,
knowing that a Sailor would stand the watch.

Today, we are here to say "Shipmate, the watch stands relieved.
Relieved by those you have led, trained and guided.
TOMCATS you now stand relieved, We have the watch."

Bos'n, standby to pipe to side, shipmate going ashore!
No longer...

Fightercrty.jpg

VF31and213.jpg

VF31and213a.jpg

The break for landing-
thebrake1.jpg

thebrake2.jpg

thebrake3.jpg

The Roll out.

rollingout.jpg


There home!

Therehome.jpg

(EDIT, THANKS MOS95B FOR THE HOSTING!)

End of an era. Those are gorgeous aircraft.

But there are better things on the horizon.

I just saw this on a Camaro site-
http://media.putfile.com/F-14-Tribute

My vids.
They where takin while Iwas standing out the open t-tops of my IROC in a high wind, thus the mood music.

http://www.mos95b.com/VF31and%20213%20vid.AVI
I switched to take the still shot.

http://www.mos95b.com/the%20break%20vid.AVI


This sum'* it up!
http://www.mos95b.com/final%20flight%20vid.AVI

Thanks for hosting!

AWESOME! Obviously the pilots aren't screwed...but what happens to them? Are they already trained in other planes? (sorry, I'm ignorant.)

The Sqdns are going to F/A-18E/F'* They will retrain or go to anuther plane or get out.