bushande Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 (edited) Crap, I'm really going crazy here! I'm planning to bild a depiction of the Tomcat that made the final Tomcat launch on 28 July 2006. I definitely know it was VF-31's AJ-112 Problem: There were two AJ-112's!!! and everyone says something different. One Tomcat was BuNo 163417 the other one was BuNo 164341 The decals say it's BuNo164341 that made the last launch but other sources state it was actually 163417. M.A.T.S. for instance says it was 163417 that did the last launch in July but another source says that it was already decommissioned in march 06 and 164341 made actually the last launch. Now which one is it??????? I spent the last two weeks searching the i-net and everyone seems to know better. Edited July 21, 2009 by bushande Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Listen to me, 163417 was retired to AMARC (now AMARG), on 22 March 2006. I have the documentation in hand for my next and last Tomcat book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 (edited) Listen to me, 163417 was retired to AMARC (now AMARG), on 22 March 2006. I have the documentation in hand for my next and last Tomcat book. Hi Dave, thanks for the quick getback. O.K. if anyone is reliable than it is you! So I really can rest assured that 164341 definitely IS the one Tomcat that made the final Tomcat launch in July 06, right???? Can I ask what kind of documentation you refer to? I don't want to offend in any way, as you are one of the number one T-Cat sources out there. Those last weeks of "research" just left me pretty confused about it. I just want to really make sure about it, as there is dozens of other (as I always thought quite serious) info out there claiming it was 163417, Heck!!! even M.A.T.S. of all sources in the world!!! Oh BTW: when will your (sadly) last T-Cat book come out? I definitely want a copy!!! Edited July 21, 2009 by bushande Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Hi Dave,thanks for the quick getback. O.K. if anyone is reliable than it is you! So I really can rest assured that 164341 definitely IS the one Tomcat that made the final Tomcat launch in July 06, right???? Can I ask what kind of documentation you refer to? I don't want to offend in any way, as you are one of the number one T-Cat sources out there. Those last weeks of "research" just left me pretty confused about it. I just want to really make sure about it, as there is dozens of other (as I always thought quite serious) info out there claiming it was 163417, Heck!!! even M.A.T.S. of all sources in the world!!! Oh BTW: when will your (sadly) last T-Cat book come out? I definitely want a copy!!! Lets just say I have a 'list' covering every Tomcat from its born-on date to strike date. It's an official list, double and triple checked and cross referenced. The book is two years late. Details keep popping up and there are still a couple of images I'm searching for. I'll try to find a pic of AJ/112 from late '06. Standby Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 BTW, Wiki states AJ-110 made the last operational trap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Hi Dave,thanks for the quick getback. O.K. if anyone is reliable than it is you! So I really can rest assured that 164341 definitely IS the one Tomcat that made the final Tomcat launch in July 06, right???? Can I ask what kind of documentation you refer to? I don't want to offend in any way, as you are one of the number one T-Cat sources out there. Those last weeks of "research" just left me pretty confused about it. I just want to really make sure about it, as there is dozens of other (as I always thought quite serious) info out there claiming it was 163417, Heck!!! even M.A.T.S. of all sources in the world!!! Oh BTW: when will your (sadly) last T-Cat book come out? I definitely want a copy!!! Lets just say I have a 'list' covering every Tomcat from its born-on date to strike date. It's an official list, double and triple checked and cross referenced. The book is two years late. Details keep popping up and there are still a couple of images I'm searching for. I'll try to find a pic of AJ/112 from late '06. Standby Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Sorry for the double post. I have confirmed, it was AJ-110 recording the last trap. Boy, that throws you off doesn't it. 164341 just did not sound right to me first time I read it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 AJ-112 made the final 'Operational' Tomcat Launch on 28 July 2006, Cat #3, 1642 hours, crewed by Lt Blake Coleman and LtCdr Dave Lauderbaugh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Sorry for the confusion. AS I posted in another forum, I'm suffering from an eye issue right now and misread your earlier post. I thought you were referring to the last trap. For some reason, I cannot edit my posts. Whatever happened to the edit feature? Anyway, it was AJ-112 making the final launch. It was not 163417 because that Cat was already in the boneyard. The BuNo for AJ-112 on 28 July was 164341. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Here she is in September 2006. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 (edited) Here she is in September 2006. WHAMM!!! Thank you Dave, that was awesome! I really really appreciate it. Wish I had the list! :( Actually would you mind to help me out one more time? I like making little plaques for my dios stating from when to when the respective aircraft "lived". Would you mind telling me the first flight date of 164341 and when they scrapped "her"? That would be cool. Oh and while you are at it, any chance I could get you to tell me the first flight date and the decommission date of 158627 as well? That was the first operational cat being transferred to VF-1 in 73 as far as I know. That would be really great. I know, looks like "offer the finger and they take the whole hand" but it really would be great! Thanks a lot again in advance! Edited July 21, 2009 by bushande Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 164341 was indeed the last Felix 112, which it became right after we got home from cruise. On the last Tomcat cruise, it was Blacklion 201. We transferred it to VF-31 immediately upon return to Oceana, and as a matter of fact it was the first jet out of the 11 we had in 213 that we got rid of following that cruise, prior to transition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 164341 was indeed the last Felix 112, which it became right after we got home from cruise. On the last Tomcat cruise, it was Blacklion 201. We transferred it to VF-31 immediately upon return to Oceana, and as a matter of fact it was the first jet out of the 11 we had in 213 that we got rid of following that cruise, prior to transition. Cooooooool, Thanks so much!! that is the great thing about talking to the pros!. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jhanna1701 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Lets just say I have a 'list' covering every Tomcat from its born-on date to strike date. It's an official list, double and triple checked and cross referenced. The book is two years late. Details keep popping up and there are still a couple of images I'm searching for. I'll try to find a pic of AJ/112 from late '06. Standby Hmm, seems to me that I remember the original due date was Dec 2007. So, if it's two years late, does that mean this Dec?!?!?!? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonesy1275 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Here's the shots I took of AJ-112 during her final launch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Jonesy, we have to talk! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 WHAMM!!!Thank you Dave, that was awesome! I really really appreciate it. Wish I had the list! B) Actually would you mind to help me out one more time? I like making little plaques for my dios stating from when to when the respective aircraft "lived". Would you mind telling me the first flight date of 164341 and when they scrapped "her"? That would be cool. Oh and while you are at it, any chance I could get you to tell me the first flight date and the decommission date of 158627 as well? That was the first operational cat being transferred to VF-1 in 73 as far as I know. That would be really great. I know, looks like "offer the finger and they take the whole hand" but it really would be great! Thanks a lot again in advance! and this is why my book is two years late! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 and this is why my book is two years late! It will be worth the wait Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 and this is why my book is two years late! Sorry, didn't want to cause any trouble or anger! thanks a lot anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Sorry, didn't want to cause any trouble or anger!thanks a lot anyway. No anger, only humor :-). I'll try to help you out as best I can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Taylor Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Here's my question.... What was the bureau number of Felix 112 on the last cruise to the gulf in 2005-2006? I was minding my own business at Al Udeid one day in January of 2006 and happened to see Felix 112 take off to return to the boat. I snapped a couple of pics and watched it climb out of sight knowing that it would more than likely be the last time I would see a Tomcat fly. I would like to eventually build a model of this bird and having the correct bureau number would be a plus. Also, were there any aircrew names carried in the AOR and what were they for 112? Thanks, Kirk Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 163417 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I'll back up what Dave's said as well. I was there 2 days after the fly in and got full walk arounds of all 11 of 31's F-14D's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 No anger, only humor :-). I'll try to help you out as best I can. PHeewwwwww! gooooooood!! I already thought...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bushande Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 (edited) Thanks again for the help folks!!! That BuNo-stuff can really drive one nutts! Edited July 23, 2009 by bushande Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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