757flyer Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 I recently started digging into VF-84 markings variations for the Tomcat Era, and came across this photo. I have seen it before, but had not noticed the stripes on the external tanks. They do not appear to have chevrons within the stripes, but I can't confirm that due to the resolution. The stripes appear more vertical than what was seen in the later VF-103 days: I haven't found any other photos yet of these tank markings in the 1980ish time frame for VF-84, or any other tank markings across the Tomcat Era for VF-84. Was this a very limited-time thing? Thanks for any help anyone can provide! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 It might just be me but I can see two faint markings on the black part of the stripe that appear to be chevrons. They didn't have those stripes in 84 to 87 when I was on the Nimitz so I guess they were a very short lived thing, they don't show up in any of the cruise books. I would put the time frame for the photo to be between 79 and 82. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 There's something there with the image brightened: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 (edited) Captions to the photo: Quote Taken on July 1, 1979 And ... Quote VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-14A Tomcats AJ-201 and AJ-210 fly by the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) 1978-1980. Official U.S. Navy photo. HTH -Gregg Edited June 13, 2022 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseeaters Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Victory AJ-203 and AJ-210: image from facebook page: Incredible Military Photos I don't want to add to your doubts, but note that the style of the stripes on the Victory 207 is different. Victory AJ-205 and AJ-207: image from facebook page: Detail & Scale Quote Link to post Share on other sites
757flyer Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 Those photos are GREAT! Many thanks! In the first photo, it appears that the tank stripe on 203 is more vertical (like those in the original photo I referenced) than 210's tank stripe. Any guess as to what time frame the second photo would be from? Thanks again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 14 hours ago, 757flyer said: Those photos are GREAT! Many thanks! In the first photo, it appears that the tank stripe on 203 is more vertical (like those in the original photo I referenced) than 210's tank stripe. Any guess as to what time frame the second photo would be from? Thanks again! For the second photo I would say 84/85 time frame, IIRC VF-84 had a few birds still with the hi-vis markings during the work-ups for the 85 cruise but once we were on cruise all their birds were low-vis. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vonjhn68 Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Great photos! IMO, the VF-84 high-vis F-14 paint scheme is the epitome of the iconic Tomcat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseeaters Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 (edited) I think time frame 82/85. According "Bert Kinzey and Colors and markings of US Navy F-14 Tomcats - part 1 - Atlantic squadrons (kindle format: pages 222/223)", VF-84 received the first of several Tomcats in the tactical scheme in 1982. In 1985, the Jolly Rogers had more Tomcats painted in the tactical scheme than colorful markings. More pics from: https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-85/index_012.htm Edited June 20, 2022 by mouseeaters Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Taylor Posted July 2, 2022 Share Posted July 2, 2022 On 6/18/2022 at 8:00 PM, mouseeaters said: Victory AJ-203 and AJ-210: image from facebook page: Incredible Military Photos Perhaps it's just my eyes, but while I can clearly see the white demarcation on the fixed part of the wings, the pylons, the drop tanks, and the engine nacelles, I find it very difficult to see the white underside of the nose; it appears to be grey overall. Is it just poor eyesight on my part ,or is this some marking anomaly? Cheers, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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