 VF-14 is taking part in
Operation Southern Watch!
A message from the Commanding Officer
July 14th 1999, aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
As I write to you from our present location in the Arabian Gulf, I'm
looking forward to our last half of deployment as I know most of you are as well. Looking
back, it has been an incredible three months for the TOPHATTERs.
 Our aircrew
proved to be one of the most predominant factors in NATO's success over Kosovo. Their
professionalism, skill, and bravery under fire was second to none. Our performance numbers
are staggering in terms of weapons dropped on target. However, we would not have been able
to reach that level of success unless we had the aircraft under us performing all the
tasks it was supposed to do. In that regard, and all my aircrew
agree, the real heroes of our fight over Kosovo are the men and women who maintained the
jets we flew into combat.
There are many sophisticated systems in the Tomcat, each requiring
dedicated people to keep that system at its top level. From the engines,
to the
radar, to the flight controls, to the radios, the lighting, the bombs
and missiles, the LANTIRN
targeting pod... They all MUST be working properly for our aircrew
to be able to do their job. And for two months straight, the VF-14 maintenance
department kept our jets combat ready, day after day. Through their hard work and
dedication, the TOPHATTERs were able to reach a 99.4% sortie completion rate, dropping
over 395,000 pounds of ordnance. My hat
is off to every man and woman who worked on a VF-14 jet
during operation Allied Force.
Looking ahead, we are about to start our involvement with Operation Southern
Watch. The conditions will be challenging to say the least; but we have been training for
this type of environment and we will keep our emphasis on safety.
To all the families back home, thank you for the support and concern during
the first half of cruise. You certainly are as much a reason for our victory as anyone.
Keep the homefires burning. We're over half-way home.
Best wishes to all,
CDR Ted "Slapshot" Carter |
