by Lt. Jim Stanley
VF-14 Public Affairs Officer
This year, the VF-14 Tophatters celebrate their 80th year of
continuous active service. To commemorate their long history, a squadron reunion and
anniversary celebration is planned for the weekend of Nov. 4-6. Tophatter alumni can get
more information from Lt. Chad Spencer, alumni coordinator, at (757)-433-5160 or me at
433-4830. E-mail can be sent to jstanley@roosevelt.navy.mil,
or check our web site at http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircraft/sites/vf14/index.html
Being the U.S. Navy's oldest continuous active duty squadron,
Tophatter history is very much a history of naval aviation. Since its inception September
1919 at NAS San Diego, VF-14 has had 14 different squadron designations and flown over 22
different types of aircraft - operating from no less than 22 kinds of cruisers,
battleships and aircraft carriers, carrying the United States flag to all corners of the
seven seas.
The squadron's career began in the U.S. Navy's first carrier, USS
Langley, CV-1. The squadron, then Fighter Plane Squadron 1, established a record for
carrier landings in a single day. Flying the TS-1 aircraft, 127 landings were completed by
the end of flight operations. It is reported that the current skipper, Cmdr. W. E. Carter,
logged a few of his 1,400 career traps on that day.
As for the tophat, it was originally adopted in 1927. Devised by
then commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Gerry Bogan, the unit emblem was meant to symbolize the
very best and to boost the morale of aviators who were flying the notoriously difficult
Boeing FB-5. Originally called the High-Hatters, the title changed in 1942 to the more
modern "Tophat" moniker.
Over the years, the squadron has been assigned many different
missions, including patrol and observation in its early years, and scouting, attack, and
fighter when it became associated with carrier based operations. In 1929, the squadron was
assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3), where it began as a fighter squadron and transitioned to
a bomber squadron. Throughout the 1930s, the Tophatters flew various aircraft before being
transferred to the Atlantic Fleet and USS Ranger (CV-4).
Tophatters proved formidable foes during World War II - seeing
action in North Africa and against German forces in Norway. In November 1944 the squadron
transferred to the Pacific Fleet and participated in various campaigns. In 1949, while
flying the F-4U Corsair, they accepted their current designation, as well as the role of
all weather interceptor.
In 1954 they transitioned to the jet age with the F3-D Skynight
and to the F-3H Demon in 1956. May 1963 the Tophatters transitioned to the F-4B Phantom
II, becoming the first Phantom squadron to operate onboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
(CVA-42). In January 1974 the squadron transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat and in June 1975,
it became the first squadron to deploy to the Mediterranean with the F-14A Tomcat.
Successes followed as VF-14 employed Tomcats in various conflicts throughout the world,
including more than 80 combat missions during operation "Urgent Fury" over
Grenada. After that they participated in operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of
elements of the multinational forces in Beirut. They were on extended deployment during
the Lebanon Hostage crisis of 1986 and were on station with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
shortly after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi ground forces. In January 1991, the
Tophatters again saw combat during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Dark times fell on the squadron when in April 1994, it was
transferred to Commander, Fighter Wing Atlantic in anticipation of decommissioning.
However the squadron was given a reprieve and began building up again in 1996 in
anticipation for a 1997 summer Mediterranean cruise onboard Kennedy. Following a very
successful deployment, the squadron spent most of 1998 at home in Virginia Beach.
