Hypothesis: This plane could make any paint scheme look good.
@LIONTAMER3D
2 жыл бұрын
hypothesis: playboy bunny tail emblems make ANY fkn plane look good!
@kake9340
2 жыл бұрын
@@LIONTAMER3D not the p-2, or a-3. Overall goofy looking airframes.
@cheesehat6420
2 жыл бұрын
I mean your not wrong
@cheesehat6420
2 жыл бұрын
Any plane can make anything look good, a painted on turd would look bad ass on the ugliest planes
@bonosimic532
2 жыл бұрын
highly likely !
@marcoedelrolandi4936
2 жыл бұрын
On a less serious note, the jolly rogers paint scheme was also used in Macross/Robotech for the main protagonist VF-1S Valkyrie mech/.
@spliffbooth
2 жыл бұрын
Macross/Robotech was the first thing that came to my mind when he presented the scheme here.
@zerosen2141
2 жыл бұрын
for the TV version, it was only ever used by Roy Focker and later Hikaru Ichijo/Rick Hunter under the callsign "Skull One". The DYRL movie, had all fighters of Skull Squadron, painted with the emblem, some pilots adding their own personal colors. Focker's being the classic Jolly Roger Yellow, Hikaru's being Diamondback Red, and Max having a blue striping. The overall pattern was the same for most, if not all of them, the only difference was the color of the stripe.
@Leadblast
2 жыл бұрын
Hikaru's original red-striped VF-1J (before he inherited Roy Focker's VF-1S "Skull One") resembles more the Wolfpack livery for me
@TheSanien
2 жыл бұрын
Roy my boy still sorry to see you HP
@TheMichaelBeck
Жыл бұрын
It's in the Mechwarrior universe too. Love it.
@McCannic1
2 жыл бұрын
My father was a Ghostrider, VF142 ‘69 USS Enterprise.I still have his coffee mug to this day. He was very proud of his squadron.
@kenwaid8239
Жыл бұрын
Fun fact while it was in dry dock being overhauled before a spinal deployment USS enterprise CVN 65 Herr Captain Dan Roper would often sit on the bridge wearing the “monster maroon“ uniform from the Star Trek movies we tried to get him as a guest of honor for a convention we were holding but unfortunately he had orders that would not allow this Because of time constraints but he was a very down to earth guy.
@DoNuT_1985
2 жыл бұрын
The Tomcat was just a such beautiful plane, even though most of the squadrons lived on with Super Hornets and using the paint scheme, it just looks way cooler on the F-14.
@cdfe3388
2 жыл бұрын
The F-14 is an elegant-looking aircraft. Good plane though it may be, the F-18 just doesn't look right, with the vertical tail surfaces so far forward and the intakes tucked in so far back under the wings, plus so many hard corners compared to the Tomcat's smooth contours. It has the look of something a child would draw: everything is there, but it's in the wrong place with the wrong proportions, and it's not quite the right shape..
@arcanewyrm6295
2 жыл бұрын
*Everything* looks cooler on a Tomcat.
@smgdfcmfah
8 ай бұрын
The Tomcat is a BIG plane. Couple that with the fact that the stabilizers are nearly perfectly vertical and large making for a very visible and prominent canvass compared with the Hornet (even the Super Hornet due to the large angle on the tails).
@DoNuT_1985
8 ай бұрын
@@smgdfcmfah Yeah, proportions too! I like the Hornet's nose but something about the tiny fuselage and all the stuff attached to it doesn't look right. But I must admit, the Viper is also a sexy bird and still looks fresh, even though it was designed in the 70s and actually isn't that much newer than the Tomcat, only 4 or 5 years, I think.
@geemanbmw
4 ай бұрын
@DoNuT_1985 totally agree! In short, the F-18 Hornet or Super Hornet is ugly 😮
@jim-f4n
9 ай бұрын
Ward. My name is Jim. I am an ABH-3. I got the full experience. Worked my way from Blueshirt from chocks to elevators to tractors to Yellow. Our Handler was Commander Jim Carroll. Our C.O.s were Dan Pederson and Tony Less. Our Tomcats were the Wolfpack and the Bountyhunters Which had kool Strips. All aboard Ranger CV-61. In Reagans Navy. What a great time. Go Navy!
@scottjenkins6972
2 жыл бұрын
I knew Jolly Rogers was going to be #1 as soon as the one-off all black test squadron paint scheme was discounted. The Final Countdown was a good reference for popular culture, but also as a kid of the 80's I was absolutely enthralled by the Robotech anime cartoon and the Jolly Roger Veritech Fighter that look 98.9% just like the best fighter ever made....the F14 Tomcat.
@tehpw7574
2 жыл бұрын
Macross *coff loudly* Macross. *mumbles* and it's a "Valkyrie" Variable Fighter. When Macross Zero (I'm an idiot) was released in early 2000s, it was pretty clear in the storyline that the F-14 is what the VF-0 (and the mass-produced VF-1) was based of off. As for the Vandy, I actually got to see it up close in work, while i was stationed at Point Mugu in 2003-06. They didn't roll it out from the hanger to the south of where AIMD was located often but they certainly flew it enough...
@cvillalobos27
2 жыл бұрын
Beat me to it.
@rodneydiggs3926
2 жыл бұрын
Much love for the robotech reference..... made the tomcat my fav plane of all time.... blew starscream from transformers out of the water.....
@warrenchambers4819
2 жыл бұрын
Took the words right outta my mouth Scott. Skull 1 was the SHIT back in the day.
@macmasks
2 жыл бұрын
Was going to mention the same thing. Glad to see so many Robotech/Macross fans.
@chipjaybo6663
2 жыл бұрын
I shot the paint on the Wolfpack jets(AMH3 in the corrosion control shop). The prep and layout was the work of 4 or 5 techs at any given time. It was against SOP at the time (88-92) to paint 100% of the jet. So we would pop under the belly and draw around a quarter and leave that alone. voila, not 100% of the jet. The Wolfie was done with a stencil, the rest was done with tapelines. Took a full day with 5 people to prep/sand the plane, another day to mark it, then a halfday of non stop paint to complete, with a bucket brigade mixing paint and passing the paint pots over. Low vis was easier to mark, but harder to prep. Had to wear a full bunny suit with forced air respiration on the beach, the paint was polyurethane then. On the boat we used epoxy, still made an atmospheric mess for other folks around the hangar bay.
@jameshisself9324
2 жыл бұрын
On the beach once we had the CC team paint a bird over the weekend inside the hanger. We came in Monday morning to about 30 dead pigeons laying about the hanger. Not our finest environmental hour.
@waynefletcher9884
2 жыл бұрын
@@jameshisself9324 😳
@Beer-can_full_of_toes
2 жыл бұрын
@@jameshisself9324 didn’t seem to hurt the population though lol I’d consider it a service. Also thank you for your services. Lol
@Brian-yk5kx
2 жыл бұрын
Damn man good to know! Thanks for telling
@Brian-yk5kx
2 жыл бұрын
@@jameshisself9324 oh shit
@jcn115
2 жыл бұрын
I put together a Tomcat model and I used the Jolly Rogers Christmas theme paint scheme. The skull has a Santa Hat and two candy canes for the bones. Drop tanks say “Seasons Greetings”
@TheJer1963
2 жыл бұрын
The 1/48 Hobby Boss kit? Got that one in my stash.
@jcn115
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheJer1963 no, it was just a 1/48 Monogram, I bought the Christmas theme paint scheme decals separately
@thevoxofreason8468
2 жыл бұрын
As a young child, I built a model of the "Black Bunny" Phantom. I know it was just an honorable mention, but that scheme looks so darn cool on just about anything.
@MrTimjames343
Жыл бұрын
somehow I found this video and your comment by complete accident after just talking to my dad about his time in the navy, squadron vx-4 to vx-9. I was born in camerillo just outside point mugu, and we were stationed there from the late 80s to early 2000s. My father still has the "unofficial" and "official" palyboy stencils in the garage that they used to paint onto the F-4s and F-14s. He was very proud of his time in. Anyways have a good one
@plrx760
2 жыл бұрын
I agree. The Final Countdown immortalized The Jolly Rogers.
@sd3693
2 жыл бұрын
VF-84's livery is so iconic that it found its way into pop culture as the "Skull Squadron" design from Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Robotech back in the 80s, and they're still using it in Macross sequels.
@anthonymuzyczek5599
2 жыл бұрын
Roy Fokker and than Rick Hunter were squadron leaders. Macross / Robotech are classic!
@twistedxknights
2 жыл бұрын
@@anthonymuzyczek5599 I think Rick Hunters livery when he was with Vermillion squadron is based on the high vis from VF-1
@snowjerkface
2 жыл бұрын
Everybody wanted Skull Leader's toy over all the others. lol
@wheel6243
2 жыл бұрын
Solid choices. Besides the Jolly Rogers, I've always been partial to their sometimes sister squadron VF-41 "Black Aces", great livery, solid pedigree.
@ronaldkonkoma4356
2 жыл бұрын
That was my first model from the gift shop of the museum. Great choice!
@wheel6243
2 жыл бұрын
@@ronaldkonkoma4356 My 1:48 Tomcat is a VF-41 in low-vis scheme.
@RTek1986
2 жыл бұрын
Kind of surprising the Black Aces got missed out.
@mgold4685
2 жыл бұрын
Mark, I had the honor as serving with both VF-84 & VF-41 1974-1981 (NAS Oceana VA). F-4B Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats. Walked the wings and repaired "black Boxes" on both. AT1 Brown checking in...
@ronaldkonkoma4356
2 жыл бұрын
@@mgold4685 you just reminded me of a trip to the Rhode Island air show. At the time, they had a Tomcat on site at the museum and the chief for the Blue Angels came over and asked to take a look. They shut down the display and let him walk the plane and thoroughly examine the cockpit. I loved that the guy running the greatest attraction of the weekend was like a kid with the Tomcat.
@Froobyone
2 жыл бұрын
I held my breath when we got to number one. If it wasn't the Jolly Rogers, I was going to lose my faith in humanity and go live in the woods. That's saved me buying an axe and a lifetime's supply of toilet roll. I was surprised not to see VF-2 Bounty Hunters. That would have been my third place with the top two as you have them. Great video. Thank you.
@gregiep
2 жыл бұрын
I feel you. I was going to unsubscribe from several other channels if the Jolly Rogers weren’t #1. I would still stay subbed to Ward. I’m not stupid.
@scottsaulsbury4887
2 жыл бұрын
I'm a former Bounty Hunter (AKA Bullet)... I'm OK with VF-84 hitting the top spot, but, no mention at all of a pioneering squadron and its paint scheme? Massive oversight.
@belliott538
2 жыл бұрын
There’s a lot to be said for a Sharp, well maintained Axe! And Toilet Paper is Overrated… when you’re young. 😈
@cf453
2 жыл бұрын
@@belliott538 "hot water, good dentishtry and shoft lavatory paper"
@KriA76
2 жыл бұрын
I was also surprised that VF-2 did not even make it in the top ten. One of the coolest looking schemes in my opinion. Not VF-84 cool, but still badass
@chuchuchip
2 жыл бұрын
I served with HM-14 on the "IKE" in 1980 with the Puking Dogs. However on a night hop, in the Persian Gulf, a "Dog" landed on the wrong carrier. They were known as the " Lost Dogs" for the rest of the cruise. Semper Fortis
@edrobison3483
2 жыл бұрын
I was also on the Ike for the 1980 IO cruise with VAQ-132. I remember that incident and made up a song (take-off on the old "Car 54 Where Are You?" TV theme song) about it. "There's a foul deck on the Ike/mess deck's broken out in fights" But it wasn't in the Persian Gulf but in the Northern Arabian Sea. We never went through the Straits of Hormuz. But thanks for the memory!
@chuchuchip
2 жыл бұрын
@@edrobison3483 I remember the "Whales". For me Persian Gulf was the whole area. We were are helos & we cross decked to Independence, Midway, Diego Garcia doing cargo, Coronado & Duluth doing minesweeping. For us 1980 was afloat , we finally got liberty in Bahrain just before Christmas. We finally came stateside end of January. Semper Fortis
@gregoryleewalker
2 жыл бұрын
I was there. Ships company, Weapons Dept., G-3 Div., Weapons elevators. The squadron that serviced that "lost dog" before they returned to IKE painted lost dog on the twin tails. I remember seeing it in the hangar bay.
@KayakCraigFishing
2 жыл бұрын
My dad was in 143 just dont remember what years in the 80's that was.... He retired in 91' from Fighter wing at Oceana
@cdfe3388
2 жыл бұрын
Reminds me of an incident I read about as a kid where a US carrier in the western Pacific in 1944 was recovering aircraft at dusk. The last plane comes in after sundown. The LSO waves him down. He's almost on the deck when everybody on the ship realizes the plane is a Zero, and the pilot realizes the ship he's about to land on is not Japanese. According to the story, the Zero pilot jammed his throttles to WEP and barely cleared the planes on the forward flight deck (old straight-decked Essex-class), then scooted away at wavetop altitude before anyone could line up an antiaircraft gun on him. Hilarious little mutual "Oh shit!" moment.
@abolishwelfare
2 жыл бұрын
As a kid in the 80’s, VF-84 was THE Tomcat squadron. The look was sheer perfection. If I were a time traveling fighter jock, it would either be 1980’s VF-84 or 1940’s VMFA-214 for me. A Jolly Roger F-14 or a Black Sheep F4U, can’t lose either way.
@thericksanchez0197
2 жыл бұрын
I didn't mind VF-2 being left out, but personally, I love the VF-2 livery. It was iconic. Had so many posters in my room as a kid. Thank you for the video sir!
@xephironrapier5275
Жыл бұрын
Keep in mind that VF-2 was an all-star squadron. Crazy amounts of awards and achievements..Mooch is obviously mad that he didn't make the cut. Most don't. This is aircrew and maintenance. The mighty bullets are like the Skulls of aviation. The truth hurts. I do appreciate the videos, entertaining
@flysupertomcat1
2 жыл бұрын
VF-2 not only deserved to be included, but would have been in the top 3, in my opinion. The red white and blue Langley stripes will forever by iconic in my eyes.
@lorenzcassidy3960
2 жыл бұрын
My thought exactly. The iconic fuselage stripes, ultra-cool tail logo and badass tactical callsign (BULLET) should have scored way more on that Mooch-O-Meter thingy.😎
@scottsaulsbury4887
2 жыл бұрын
Former Bounty Hunter here... couldn't agree more. And... they're still active as a Super Hornet squadron!
@seph7450
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah I agree, those colors are amazing. I'm building a 1/48 VF-2 CAG Super Tomcat now.
@lorenzcassidy3960
2 жыл бұрын
@@seph7450 I have the AMK F-14D in my stash... the "Bullet 106" option does look awesome! Though, I'll have to fork out some more bills to get the Tamiya SuperTomcat which is said by many, to be superior to the AMK one.
@seph7450
2 жыл бұрын
@@lorenzcassidy3960 Another modeler here! AMK has many features that the Tamiya doesn't. However, the build can be challenging. I have a Tamiya Super Cat waiting in my stash. Definitely the easiest to build and it has great quality. My VF-2 one is the Hobby Boss make. Other one is the Eduard Danger Zone F-14 which will be made in VF-111 colors.
@michaelhuling9040
2 жыл бұрын
How The World Famous VF-2 Bounty Hunters not make it in the top 10 is beyond me! Amazing paint scheme! The Langley stripe, Skull and crossbones, the helmets were cool, tactical sign Bullets! What more do you need!
@SHGPMedia
2 жыл бұрын
I was also surprised it wasn't in there!
@johnstewart7059
2 жыл бұрын
First, as a former Evaluator, I can tell you that the black bunny wasn't a hanger queen or an air show display. There were 2 when I arrived in '77. One was a white F-4 and a black F-4. Vandy 1 was photographed in formation with the Playboy DC-9 that was also black. The actual paint schemes, however, besides being the coolest ever (next to the screaming eagle bi-centennial F-4) were also interesting in that visually, you couldn't tell if the plane was coming to you or away. As for the F-14, that was my brother in law's aircraft as the last squadron commander. VX-4 had some of the most proficient pilots and RIO's in the business. Our function was to write the missile tactics to ensure our pilots had the best chance of shooting down their adversary when employing a missile. Point Mugu was a great place to be stationed, and these were the best aircraft ever.
@sonykroket3068
2 жыл бұрын
Leopard 2 gunner here, loved the STP Plush guitar intro. These F-14 vids are my candy, I used to bulld models and drew them as a kid. It is one of the most beautiful planes ever made, albeit obsolete. Those lines and power.....and Top Gun!!!!
@DickieDelouise
2 жыл бұрын
Great list, Mr. Carroll. Agree with most of your picks, but mine would be slightly different. 1. VF-2 Bounty Hunters 2. VF-33 Starfighters 3. VF-211 Checkmates 4. VF-21 Freelancers 5. VF-142 Ghostriders 6. VF-111 Sundowners 7. VF-32 Swordsmen 8. VF-213 Black Lions 9. VF-84 Jolly Rogers 10. VF-154 Black Knights.
@khandimahn9687
2 жыл бұрын
Figured the Jolly Rogers would win. While, personally, I like some other designs slightly more, I can not deny that the skull and crossbones is THE iconic Tomcat scheme.
@johnosbourn4312
2 жыл бұрын
I agree on that as well, because the first time that I watched "The Final Countdown", I fell in love with the mighty F-14, and the iconic Skull and Crossbones logo made the Jolly Rogers my favorite fighter squadron, of all.
@ChasWG
2 жыл бұрын
It is such an iconic logo and the Jolly Roger has a long history in the US Navy. While not a flag that is often flown, there is one USN ship that is allowed to fly the Jolly Roger, the USS Kidd (DDG-100) The ship is the third US Navy ship named after Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd who was the first American flag officer to die in action in WWII. There are many great images of this Arleigh-Burke class destroyer flying a huge black flag with the skull and crossed bones. US submarines have flown a Jolly Roger flag since back in WWII where the crews of those boats got the idea from British submariners. They would fly the flags on return to their home port after a successful mission. There are images as recent as September 2017 of the USS Jimmy Carter returning home to Kitsap-Bangor flying their Jolly Roger flag. But with submarines they adorn the flag with other symbols that mean certain things. Makes a person wonder what the most secretive sub in the USN was doing. The Navy doesn't really like it when the subs come back flying these flags during times of peace. It means they did something and in the case of the USS Jimmy Carter, they don't want to signal anything. Its an interesting history to read about.
@Deafwing
2 жыл бұрын
Something about the Jolly Rogers' design is just eye-catching and cool. And I was a kid in the 80s, so seeing the design on Roy Fokker's veritech may have made me a bit prejudiced.
@brainfat1
2 жыл бұрын
The Wolfpack paint scheme made me think other planes from that but also the Transformers rip off.
@Paradox3713
2 жыл бұрын
Preach Brother, preach it! 👍
@dr.michaelbennett8597
2 жыл бұрын
Around 1990-ish I was at an air show in Burlington, VT. There was a stripped down F-14D Super Tomcat demo there. It shook the whole airport and was the highlight of the show. He did a max climb until nearly out of sight. I believe they called it a “Devil’s Staircase.” While the Thunderbirds were impressive, the F-14 was incredible.
@ejvaudt67
2 жыл бұрын
I did a tour with VF-103 Jolly Rogers. Much better than 84! When we came back during an autumn deployment, all the squadrons added a Christmas theme to their high vis jets. Jack Ernie wore a santa hat and the crossed bones were changed to candy canes.
@Nlangkirby135
2 жыл бұрын
I always loved the VF-143 Pukin Dogs livery, very iconic and very bold.
@deekamikaze
2 жыл бұрын
That is my favorite more subtle paint job
@Nlangkirby135
2 жыл бұрын
@@deekamikaze it’s very subtle on low vis, but in high vis, I do believe the blue and black livery with the griffon is iconic.
@jeremyhess7977
2 жыл бұрын
I have to agree. But then again, I'm biased. When I was a PC with VF-143, my bird was a VF-142 Alpha that was upgraded to a Bravo (and then a Bravo Plus) and assigned to the Dogs when the Riders were decommed. I have a large, white Pukin' Dog decal on the back window of my work truck. But just for fun, I might scrape it off and get a new pair of black dogs and hand cut a set of AGs.
@Nlangkirby135
2 жыл бұрын
@@jeremyhess7977 that's good to know.
@leandrocosta3709
2 жыл бұрын
Perhaps VF-2 should be in there somewhere. Their hi-viz scheme is also vewy vewy noice.
@hoytchristian5305
2 жыл бұрын
My dad spent 19 years working on Jolly ROgers F-14s ~ He also has a plaque for saving some lives of Pilots by not letting them take planes out arguing that they would have definitely crashed on the carrier. Thank you Ward Carroll SIr. Beautiful pics.
@tesssanders7993
2 жыл бұрын
I have to tell my Blue Angels story. I was working at the end of the runway at NAS Corpus about 50 years ago.Checking avionics in an aircraft .Just me, the airplane and the ocean. Because the end of the runway was on a small peninsula it was eerie sometimes . All of a sudden the Blue Angels just whizz by! They were coming for a show that weekend but they didn't just fly in they were doing all kinds of stunts! I had the best view ever! In my cockpit all alone WOW!! Then they landed right in front of me one after another turned and parked beautifully in unison. Wow what a great day that was!
@oveidasinclair982
2 жыл бұрын
The Jolly Rogers was my first pick too, this is one bad ass squadron paint scheme and squadron name that needs to stay around as long as there is US Navy Aviation.
@fredtannenbaum9317
2 жыл бұрын
Happy to point out the Sundowners ("Sun Downers") live on as VFC-111, an adversary squadron at NAS Key West
@travisbickle3797
2 жыл бұрын
Sporting sharks teeth I hope.
@Whiskey11Gaming
2 жыл бұрын
@@travisbickle3797 Most definitely! Their F-5/T-38 aircraft liveries are epic!
@RCAvhstape
2 жыл бұрын
@@Whiskey11Gaming The Marines have an F-5 aggressor squadron as well, I saw them once in the coolest paint scheme. Desert camo with a red star on the tail fin, and inside the star was a black USMC emblem.
@RCAvhstape
2 жыл бұрын
@Ryan Kiesow Looked it up. It's VMFT-401, the Marine F-5 aggressor squadron.
@rodneyjewett5248
2 жыл бұрын
Ward gets a " Mooch Factor " of 10 out of 10. Best channel ever!
@caseyholland7860
2 жыл бұрын
I'm gonna give this vid a 28.6 on the Mooch scale. It's got some flare
@libfab1
2 жыл бұрын
Actually Playboy did authorized the bunny logo. If look at some of the F-4's during the early 60's, the bunny looks pretty crude. When Playboy found out that the VX squadron was using the likeness of the bunny Playboy served them with a cease and desist order. Course the Navy complied. Shortly after, being the good sports that they are, Playboy contacted the Navy and said they could use the bunny but ONLY if it was the Playboy copyrighted version. Course the Navy said YES! Playboy provided them with the template and all were happy...
@warrenchambers4819
2 жыл бұрын
That explains it thanks. I'm currently building the F4 Black Bunny and couldn't figure out why some of the bunnys looked well like a goat and some looked the stuff.
@AA-xo9uw
2 жыл бұрын
VMCJ-2 began painting the bunny logo on their birds - F3Ds and EF-10s - back in late 1955 early 1956 receiving official authorization in 1959/1960. The original letter can't be found in the squadron archives and probably made its way into someone's private collection. Playboy contacted VMCJ-2 again in 1967 posing the same questions and were sent a copy of the original letter. After the three VMCJs were reorganized into VMAQ-2 and VMFP-3 in August of 1975, Playboy's general counsel then contacted Q-2, for the third time, in October of 1975 inquiring as to who and when permission was granted. The CO - LtCol Royal Moore - responded in December of 1975 and received a letter - which is preserved in antiquity - in January of 1976 from their general counsel's office giving the squadron the go ahead to continue using the logo which had by then been updated. The original had the leading ear bent forward and the eye and bow tie had to be red. VMCJ-2 was one of many Marine squadrons visited in 1959 by "Miss Marine Reserves" - aka Miss February 1959, Eleanor Bradley - on a company sponsored promotional tour of bases around the country.
@Laserblade
2 жыл бұрын
It's VF-1 Wolfpack for me, for personal reasons - I have JP in my blood. Deployed aboard Enterprise, Flagship at the time, they were tip of the spear. I was aboard '74-'75 WESPAC and worked on those bird's engines as an ADJ working AIMD. 40 years after my Naval sevice, I was throwing trash into a dumpster and there on top was an 18 x 24 picture... a clip of it in your video that came from that picture I now have on my wall, "F-14 Tomcats on the prowl". The meanest looking jet aircraft I ever saw. If Wolfpack wasn't featured in your video I was going to get in your ass about that! Well Done. I have the highest respect for Naval Aviators, Thank you Sir for your service!
@michaelfinnegan226
Жыл бұрын
I was in VF-301, the Devils Disciples, we couldn't put the devil on our tails just a red arrow, but we had great patches and a very cool T-shirt when we won fighter derby. Every christmas at Miramar squadrons use to put wooden christmas decorations at the east and north gates entrance roads. We put ours at the child care center down from the north gate which prompted a phone call from the base chaplin via the base skipper. Evidently you can't put a decoration of the devil in a santa suit driving a sleigh with presents at the daycare center.
@michaelbrennan7339
2 жыл бұрын
As a AMH3 airframer in VF-31 from '94-'97, I'm glad to see my squadron make the top five. I love the channel. Keep up the great content sir.
@ralphpeed3596
2 жыл бұрын
PR2 1979-83 VF 31
@bobgamble405
2 жыл бұрын
Jolly Rogers gotta be the most recognized squadron out there, but NAS Oceana in the late 80's had about all of em. Thanks Ward for taking me back again.
@WakeMarine
2 жыл бұрын
I built a model of the Jolly Rodgers Tomcat as a kid. I ended up in a AV-8B Squadron. Not the same animal but Aviation non the less. Ward Carroll didnt mention it but a HUGE SHOUT OUT TO CC AND AIRFRAMES WHO SPEND HOURS ON THOSE PAINT SCHEMES!
@warrenchambers4819
2 жыл бұрын
Maybe your the one to ask. How do they go about that? I mean do ya sand the whole thing down or dump stripper on it prime it and shoot it? Lacquer or Enamel?
@RCAvhstape
2 жыл бұрын
Which Harrier squadron? Yuma or Cherry Point?
@marksroberts4880
2 жыл бұрын
I was in the Corrosion Control shop in VF-111 (yes, top 3 finish!) in 1982, and we sanded the entire aircraft, then painted it in Light Gull Grey, THEN laid out the rising sun and shark face (duplicated on the drop tanks, btw), then sanded and laid on the lo-vis for all but the CAG bird, who got high-vis. **NOTE** This full repaint was explicitly forbidden by NAVAIR. The polyurethane paint used was not good if inhaled, coated your lungs with plastic as well as exuded isocyante vapors (think Bhopal, India!), but we mixed it and saddled up anyways! Squadron Pride! It irritates me to see the shark face used on Navy aircraft that do not come from the VF11-VF111 bloodline. If you have the ancestry, fine, otherwise don't appropriate something that was fought so hard for.
@warrenchambers4819
2 жыл бұрын
@@marksroberts4880 Holy crap I hope you guys had a few power sanders an F-14 is one big airplane. That's a shit pot load of sanding! And I thought my 69 Coronet superbee was a bitch to sand out.
@tylernewton7217
2 жыл бұрын
Love the “Plush” insert! Probably one of my favorite riffs of all time. Great playing!
@MrFungi69
2 жыл бұрын
hehe.. was perfect!
@lyleschnitzler9120
10 ай бұрын
It was great to see my Ghost Riders in the top ten! I hated changing all of our helmets over to the white reflective tape in 1985/86.
@brettpearson8463
2 жыл бұрын
during my tour aboard Theodore Roosevelt, we had Vf-84 and Vf-41 the black aces which i feel should be top 10
@dancrawford829
2 жыл бұрын
Many thanks Mooch! The Skull & Bones on the most Badass fighter to ever grace a carrier's deck!!!👍👍👍
@lindapowell117
2 жыл бұрын
Your opinion. The F4 Phantom J was my bird.
@skipmaire4826
2 жыл бұрын
I served on the USS Enterprise in the 80's and had the Aardvarks assigned to the ship. Always liked that logo.
@skipmaire4826
2 жыл бұрын
@@jim7576 The Redcocks were an A7 squadren. I had one of their t shirts for a long time. VF21 and VS33 were not on the enterprise while I was on. 84-88.
@travisbickle3797
2 жыл бұрын
@@jim7576 VF-21 deployed in Dec 88 onboard USS Constellation (CV-64), CAG-14 or CAG-15 if memory serves.
@johnpimlott1843
2 жыл бұрын
Me too vf114 86-88.
@skipmaire4826
2 жыл бұрын
@@johnpimlott1843 Black Lions! Is that right?
@Just_Mark
2 жыл бұрын
Yea VF114 was with VF213 on the Enterprise, then the Lincoln. I was an Aardvark AT back then.
@KayakCraigFishing
2 жыл бұрын
My dad got to fly in the backseat of the F4 Playboy bunny edition when he was stationed at Point Magoo in California before spending the rest of his career at Oceana Naval Air Station working on and working around the F-14. he was in 101, 143, Fighter Wing. These are the ones i remember off the top of my head. I think he retired a Master Chief.
@blueshiftrobs
2 жыл бұрын
A few years back we had one of your guys over here in the UK dogfighting our typhoons against one of your F15's I'll never forget it the sound of that thing ! Jesus Christ I nearly pissed myself it sounded like the sky was being torn apart I literally jumped ! It made the local papers it was so loud. What a beast of a plane. Couldn't see it for cloud cover but it must of been low. Insane noise.
@charlessparks8303
2 жыл бұрын
Was great to see VF33 in your list. I was a Starfighter until 1990. Was detached to the USS America CV66 . Great video, great plane . We also loved the “screaming monkeys” aka Tarziers. This patch was on Several jackets in TOP GUN. Thanks
@EdwardRLyons
2 жыл бұрын
One I would have included is VF-41. There's no more emblematic logo than the Ace of Spades! Plus the definition of "cool" with the first ever F-14 kills, in 1981 - with the added bonus of it being the first time variable wing geometry aircraft shot down other variable wing geometry aircraft! Huge Mooch factor for that alone!
@stevenwalker4181
2 жыл бұрын
And our squadron callsign was Fast Eagle...not too bad.
@RCAvhstape
2 жыл бұрын
VMA-231 is also the Ace of Spades
@KriA76
2 жыл бұрын
Have to agree on this one…
@MisterLongShot_Official
2 жыл бұрын
VF-41 and VF-84 will forever be my favorite squadrons because of their prominent role in Tom Clancy's book Red Storm Rising.
@aaronbethea7234
2 жыл бұрын
Damn right! When I was with them in '01 we had the oldest 'Cat in the fleet (Fast Eagle 103)... and she was our most capable jet during the opening stages of OEF. First to Fight, First to Strike!
@comradesionnach
2 жыл бұрын
The VF-84 logo and high vis paint scheme was also the inspiration for the Skull Squadron in the 1982 Japanese animated series Super Dimensional Fortress Macross ( distributed in North America as the first part of the Robotech series). The airplane mode of the transformable Valkyrie veritech fighters from the series were based off of the F-14.
@johnosbourn4312
2 жыл бұрын
And that toy was also licensed by Hasbro to become a Transformers toy: Autobot Jetfire.
@raymondramos4720
2 жыл бұрын
You probably know of the F4B Phantom squadron that was aboard the Kitty Hawk during Vietnam cruises ‘67-‘68 and/or ‘68-‘69 when I was ships company Air Missile Division. The Aardvarks, my favorite bird. The Phantom did look like an Aardvark and I cracked-up every time I looked at one. Also had the orange stripe on the fuselage.
@HolyNorthAmericanEmpire
Жыл бұрын
VF-84 and the IRIAF desert camo are by far the best looking Tomcat liveries ever put on that aircraft
@VOLHans
2 жыл бұрын
You could paint a 55 gallon trash can in VF-84 colors and it would still look better than most actual aircraft.
@67tomcat
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome stuff, love the "Mooch Tally/MT" too! Another great Tomcat/Super Hornet squadron is VF-2 Bounty Hunters; surprised they didn't make the Top 10. Enjoyed as always.
@krostouin
2 жыл бұрын
Best nose stripe
@67tomcat
2 жыл бұрын
@@krostouin Agreed- believe they call it the "Langley Stripe"?
@ronaldkonkoma4356
2 жыл бұрын
Love that squadron making on the old Tomcat with stars on blue rudder, lost some of its luster on the Hornet in my opinion
@chrismartin672
2 жыл бұрын
VF-33's callsign was "Starfighter" when I got there in early 885.The old tarsier patch was still in use, and was known as "Minky". The new patch was adopted at the end of the 86 cruise. Then CDR "Smiles" Bucci hated Minky and made the change as soon as he was CO. I heard he retired as a three star --AT2 CJ Martin, VF-33 IWT 85-88
@natecrawford3612
2 жыл бұрын
I was a Pukin' Dog from 97 to 01. #4 is awesome for our squadron. I was 13B AME shop. Thanks for the awesome video Sir!!!
@ChiefMac59
2 жыл бұрын
The Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California has their F-14A from the Jolly Rogers and is painted in the proper scheme. It was painted as Wolfpack for many years
@foxzuluscalemodels
2 жыл бұрын
Mr Carroll, just wanted to congratulate you for the exquisite quality of the content you upload. I'm ESL speaker and the way the material is shown, makes it easy for a thorough comprehension of a perse complex matter. Those facts made me, as an avgeek, a big fan of your channel since episode #1. Best regards and keep it up. Frank.
@vettebecker1
2 жыл бұрын
I know the Tomcat is outdated, compared to the aircraft we have today. However, growing up in the 80’s it’s still my favorite
@arcanewyrm6295
2 жыл бұрын
Honestly, that plane is what drove me to join the Navy.
@meyercheikin7811
2 жыл бұрын
As a ROTC midshipmen I got a hop in an F-4 from VF-84 in 1967. I ended up a pilot in VC-2 flying F-8 and A-4 at Oceana and VF-84 was in the same hanger with there ready room was next door to ours. They had skull and cross bones in a glass case in their ready room. VF-84 was number 1 with the Grim Reapers number 2 in my book.
@jeffreyparker2783
2 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry but your "Honorable Mention" is the clear winner by a long shot. It may not have the coolest insignia but it has hands down the sweetest paint scheme.
@TurboHappyCar
2 жыл бұрын
Ya got me with "The Mooch Tally is science, not opinion." Great video as always! 👍
@user-xf3bk4ze2i
2 жыл бұрын
The Pukin Dogs is over the top cool! Yet, the Jolly Rogers gave me chills. I knew then I had to agree 100% that they took the number one spot! Great video! Thanks!
@MrFarnanonical
2 жыл бұрын
0:37 RIP Scott Weiland
@jamesarp3747
2 жыл бұрын
I was deployed with VA 105 in the late 70's under CAG 3 with VF 31 when they were flying the F4's. I remember the Flying Flix's and how cool the logo was. The Tails were all a solid color, red with stripes and AC on the tails and the Flix with the bomb on the fuselage. That logo always stuck with me in later deployment with F4's and even the the F14's. I even got to deploy with VF 111 flying F14's on the world curse on the USS Carl Vinson CVN70 in 1983 with CAG 15 serving in VA 37, the bulls. I think of them both, VF 31 was the most memorable. Just saying from a maintainer.
@supahornet18
11 ай бұрын
Your videos never disappoint, awesome to hear from someone who has been around the diamondbacks, 102 is absolutely badass.
@lavonjezek1401
8 ай бұрын
served with diamondbacks 65-67 as a PC it was truly one the honera of life..
@BoomerKeith1
2 жыл бұрын
This was great! I thought the Tophatters might have had a spot in the top 10, but it's hard to argue with the final selections and of course the number one ranked Jolly Rogers.
@gerryparker1390
2 жыл бұрын
Don't disagree with the number 1 pick. Yet the Jolly Roger scheme looked the best on the F4, in my opinion.
@LRRPFco52
2 жыл бұрын
It looks sick on the F-4, F-14, and Super Bug F model especially. It's timeless.
@mikehiggins104
2 жыл бұрын
I think the best F-4 scheme was the VF-51 Screaming Eagles! The 84 scheme was tight tho.
@ronaldkonkoma4356
2 жыл бұрын
Is that the black background or did you like the yellow stripe with the flag on the tail for the F4 Jolly Roger?
@ronaldkonkoma4356
2 жыл бұрын
Mike Higgins, VF 96 Falcons would have to make any list of top F4 Phantom squadrons!
@gerryparker1390
2 жыл бұрын
@@ronaldkonkoma4356 The black background and the Yellow and black V draping the fuselage.
@Roadrunner99942
2 жыл бұрын
Love the skull and cross bones. I remember as a kid in the desert in California out shooting guns with my dad a tom cat flew by so damn close i could see the pilots helmet scheme. I joined the Marines a few years later to become a grunt 100% by choice.
@oot007
Жыл бұрын
The F14 is not only most beautiful plane ever made it has the most charismatic paint schemes. Of course the iconic Jolly Rogers with the beautiful stripes on the forward fuselage had to be first. Happy that my favourite low viz scheme Pukin Dogs was in the top 10 as well as Aardvarks and Diamondbacks. Bit sad that VF-211 checkmates missed the list. I've got so many still in box F14 models from the 80's to 2000's to keep me busy when I retire from work.
@einundsiebenziger5488
8 ай бұрын
The fact that the F-14 is generally a cool plane and that there are so many classy paint schemes made it a gold mine for all plastic model kit producers. They just add new decals to the set each year, and collectors are forced to buy it if they don't want to miss out.
@robertcollins8621
2 жыл бұрын
Thank You Sir, I just saw this video and thought it was badass. I served on the USS America CV-66 from 1988-1991 when CVW-1 was deployed with Us. I saw the patch on your jacket. Thanks again for the video.
@georgehughes8698
2 жыл бұрын
Nice to see my work painting the Diamondback jets made the list!
@dannyd174
2 жыл бұрын
I grew up watching the Nevada Air National Guard F-4 High Rollers out of Reno. Always liked their design.
@davidsmith8997
2 жыл бұрын
Great lineup, no arguments other than Vandy 1 deserves more than an honorable mention. Maybe it's the official standard by which all others are judged?
@GoSlash27
2 жыл бұрын
I knew a guy who was in VX-4 Airframes. He took the expired paint for Vandy 1 and painted his Buick with it :D
@davidsmith8997
2 жыл бұрын
@@GoSlash27 Nice! Could call it the Night Train.
@kb8uuzparky489
2 жыл бұрын
Great Video ! After learning about the radar & computer system at Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles, I was in VX-4 in 72 - helped bring the F14 into the Navy. The Playboy Bunny was really awesome to see. Then to VF-143 onboard the USS America for the 76 med cruise. Pukin Dogs Forever !! Parky - AQ1 USN 67-77
@jermf35
2 жыл бұрын
This is super cool watching a video of a man who actually flew these beautiful and badass war fighting machines...everything that you say means a lot because you flew these. And getting your opinion is huge. Im so glad you made a KZitem channel
@dangurley3573
2 жыл бұрын
I think the MT Black Box is a fine-tuned machine. I’m impressed! Perhaps VF-154 was overlooked in the algorithm, though?
@WardCarroll
2 жыл бұрын
The data is watertight and absolute! Sorry, Black Knights!
@dougrobinson8602
2 жыл бұрын
@@WardCarroll "That's My Story and I'm Sticking to it"-Jimmy Buffett.
@travisbickle3797
2 жыл бұрын
BK Baby! Otis?
@gordonwood5674
2 жыл бұрын
But, but, how can you not love Otis?
@gordonwood5674
2 жыл бұрын
BKR!
@fntsmk
2 жыл бұрын
You left out VF-2 Bounty Hunters. No excuse for that Mooch! Fighter Two had the very best nose stripes on any Tomcat ever, and the twin stars on the rudders were awesome as well. VF-1 and VF-2 were my favorite Tomcat squadrons, as they were embarked on our USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, WestPac cruise of 1984.
@chrisstancer5857
2 жыл бұрын
I was in VF-2 on the USS Ranger Desert Storm Westpac.
@jakedearing6403
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly what I came here to say haha.
@duanethomas8753
2 жыл бұрын
@@chrisstancer5857 Hey Chris! We were is the same shop.
@chrisstancer5857
2 жыл бұрын
@@duanethomas8753 I worked nights as a VF-2 AT. You?
@duanethomas8753
2 жыл бұрын
@@chrisstancer5857 I worked with you in the AT shop at night as well.
@badlt5897
2 жыл бұрын
I've always liked the Pukin' Dogs more for the name. Great list either way. Great HM of VX-4.
@leonc100
2 жыл бұрын
I was a controller at NAS Oceana from 1990 to 1996. Got to see so many of these planes. I sure do miss those days.
@mattdaugherty7865
Жыл бұрын
I would've added the "Bounty Hunters" in there somewhere! Great video, Mooch!
@jasonwebb7574
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent episode. As a kid I had a model of an F4J from VF74, "Bedevillers", that was a very cool hi-viz scheme but I have never seen a lo-viz version. Swagability would be good too. I think it also featured the Felix cat? Your poll is for F14 units but VF74 looked good, the F4 was a mean looking aircraft. BZ Commander, keep up the great content, best wishes from the UK. PS any chance of an episode about the Royal Navy, have you got any Fleet Air Arm stories?
@Winchester1979
2 жыл бұрын
The Be-Devilers appears to have not gone low-vis until their final cruise in the Phantoms, when they had three-color TPS with black (or dark gray) national insignia and warning stripes, and a thin dark red lightning bolt on the tailfin. Their Tomcat scheme, with the red lightning bolt and the devil's head in a crosshair on top, was apparently subdued enough despite the black and red that it counted as low-vis, and the only variation I've found was that on one of the CO birds they filled in the devil's head with blue and the crosshair with white. They did go "pseudo-low-viz" a couple of times though, probably because someone at the top of CVW-17 was a hardass - both times that VF-74 transferred over to CVW-17, they had all of their squadron-specific insignia stripped off and flew with only the wing markings and squadron numbers. They did have high vis national insignia both times though.
@Wannes_
2 жыл бұрын
They were trying too hard to be bad ass
@get2dachoppa249
2 жыл бұрын
@@Winchester1979 The blue devils head was on at least 3 different a/c within the 86-89 time-frame, including the COs jet. You are correct about the full color nat. insignia because that jet was still in the overall gull grey scheme. That particular jet, buno 162707, was the aircraft flown by the navy crew that accidentally shot down an USAF RF-4C in 1987, and that F-14 itself was written off during an accident at sea in 1993. That period of "pseudo-low-viz" you are talking about was brought about by the beginning of the political correctness movement in the military of the early 90s. It was brought about by a general "frowning upon" by civilian leadership of any satanic symbolism in the military in general, because the air force and marines also went through the same thing with their squadron names & imagery (Lucky Devils, Red Devils, Devils Disciples, Jersey Devils, Devils Own Grim Reapers, Hells Angels, etc). Thankfully, it didn't last very long.
@lonniedufour2925
Ай бұрын
I’m a retired MCPO black shoe but had 2 buddies at VF 211, the Fighting Checkmates. Always loved their paint scheme.
@ronwood873
8 ай бұрын
I was with VF-84 during Desert Storm. Great choice for #1 and a great ranking of F-14 squadrons! I appreciate your channel and content.
@Barrett619
7 ай бұрын
VF-51, VF-124, and VF-194 were 3 of my favorites growing up because they were my dad’s squadrons.
@carlcarter9751
2 жыл бұрын
I really enjoyed this show Mooch. thanks for filling in a lot of gaps. I came to Hate Dick Cheny for politicking the F-14. As a Tomcat/Weapons systems Project engineer at Point MUGU, My Interactions were mostly with my Mugu counterparts at VX-4 and the crazies at Miramar. I had over ten years/1500 hours in the SITS (Systems Integration Test Station) lab while at Mugu making all those systems upgrades and enhancements. I had over 30 smart engineers supporting my group for almost 10 years. I started on the 303 design and finally left after I designed and flight tested a near-real-time gun scoring/Training capability. Regrettably, Northrop needed too many $$ to install the system in the D version, but flight crews at both Mugu and Miramar who flew more bulletless/but recorded for post engagement evaluations learned very quickly just how fast and deadly the Tomcat was. I left Mugu to work on JSTARS in Florida until retirement for a total of 35 years at Grumman. It was FUN. I almost got to be the Grumman flight test RIO, but was beat out by Jim Baskerville, a former Navy guy of course, but he was very trainable.
@charleswatson3419
2 жыл бұрын
I went to high school in Virginia Beach, Class of '70, and I well remember seeing the Jolly Rogers and the Tomcatters flying overhead.
@SION8907
2 жыл бұрын
I love that the Jolly Rogers are number one on the list, but I can absolutely appreciate the Wolfpack even more as swagability now as their paint scheme is the one for the F-14 on War Thunder now.
@tl5606
2 жыл бұрын
The Iranians were cheated in this video. They may be red air, but they know how to paint em.
@Andrew_Red_Dust_and_Avgas
Жыл бұрын
Propper science and a fun post thanks Ward!
@spalkin
2 жыл бұрын
I feel so cool when I'm hangin out with Ward up in the loft!
@ronaldemerson4314
9 ай бұрын
I was at PMTC back in 1990 and actually saw the Black Bunny 14 doing a runway flyby. It was a sight to behold !!! I thought it was the Navy version of the Wild Weasel.....I still remember that sight 33 years later.
@johnkress2360
2 жыл бұрын
Your choices were great. My grandson is a machinist mate on the USS Eisenhower. They are preparing it for one more cruise, afterwards it is supposed to be decommissioned.
@romine777
8 ай бұрын
Great list, Ward. VF-111 paint scheme looked great on the F-14 Tomcat but looked even better on the F-4 Phantom.
@richardclark4733
2 жыл бұрын
Three places the F-14 always looks good: 1) Movies 2) Airshows 3) Behind the pipper in the HUD
@tomuehrke2782
8 ай бұрын
I can't remember the squadron but many years ago I had a condo in Rancho Penisquitos,San Diego Co. and my neighbors were Top Guns training at Miramar N.A.S. Those guys could party all nite and tear up the sky the next day! Great guys-God bless 'em.
@daveb7204
2 жыл бұрын
I still have the Vandy One model I built with my dad back in the 90's. That's my #1 scheme.
@vexos1327
Жыл бұрын
seeing these F-14 designs and hearing your stories within your videos makes me all the more interested, i enjoy your videos so much and 1thank you for your service o7
@rvasquez8057
2 жыл бұрын
Outstanding Video of COOLNESS for an outstanding aircraft. Totally enjoyed it. F-14, Never Forgotten, Always Remembered....
@kevins.3573
10 ай бұрын
Kings Island amusement park used to be owned by Paramount, back in the '90's. There was a ride called Top Gun and the whole waiting area was themed after F-14 squadrons. The line dividers were split into squadrons and they had the had the emblems hung above each line. It's weird seeing those emblems and remembering them as a child. The Ghost Rider emblem was always the coolest to me ever since I was a kid.
@davidhooper259
2 жыл бұрын
Puking dogs has to be the strangest but most memorable names. Certainly the Jolly Roger iconography will always be feared and never gets tired
Пікірлер: 2,5 М.