The Tophatters began carrier operations aboard the Navy’s first aircraft carrier, Langley, in 1926 as Fighter Plane Squadron One, setting a single-day record of 127 carrier landings in TS-1s. By 1929, they moved to Saratoga and shifted from fighters to bombers, flying various aircraft throughout the 1930s before joining the Atlantic Fleet aboard Ranger in 1939.

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In WWII, the squadron supported the North Africa invasion in 1942, destroying 16 enemy aircraft from Ranger. Flying SBD Dauntlesses, they joined the first U.S. naval air strike on German forces in Norway. Transferred to the Pacific in 1944, they flew from Bunker Hill and Essex during the Leyte campaign, Formosa, Iwo Jima, and the first carrier strike on Tokyo. Post-war, they cruised aboard Tarawa, becoming VA-14 in 1948 and VF-14 in 1949, flying Corsairs.

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During the 1950s, VF-14 deployed to the Mediterranean aboard Wasp and Forrestal, flying F4Us, F3D Skyknights, and F3H Demons. The 1960s saw a transition to the F-4 Phantom and Vietnam combat missions from John F. Kennedy, logging over 1,600 flight hours and nearly a million pounds of ordnance dropped. They remained with JFK through 1982.

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VF-14 became one of the first Atlantic squadrons to fly F-14 Tomcats in 1974, deploying with JFK and intercepting Soviet bombers. They won multiple awards in the 1980s, including the “Best Fighter Squadron” and the “Grand Slam” for missile accuracy. In 1990, they deployed for Desert Shield and Desert Storm, flying long-range CAP missions over Iraq. By 1992, VF-14 supported operations in Yugoslavia and participated in NATO and UN missions. They led Tomcat air-to-ground innovation and narrowly avoided deactivation, joining CVW-8 in 1996. By 1999, they flew in Allied Force and Southern Watch.

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VF-14 flew its final F-14 cruise in 2001 on Enterprise, launching strikes in Afghanistan after 9/11. They transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, deploying with Nimitz in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron joined Ronald Reagan in 2004 and supported combat ops in 2005. Training and exercises continued through 2006–2007, leading to another deployment in 2008.

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In 2009, they prepared for a 7-month deployment with Nimitz, and by 2011 were reassigned to CVW-9 aboard John C. Stennis, supporting missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and maritime security operations.

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From pioneering carrier aviation in the 1920s to flying cutting-edge Super Hornets in modern combat operations, the Tophatters have remained at the forefront of naval airpower. Their legacy spans major conflicts—from World War II and Vietnam to Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom—demonstrating adaptability, precision, and professionalism across generations. With a proud heritage and a forward-looking mission, VFA-14 continues to embody the Navy’s core values as a vital component of America’s maritime strength.

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Our version of the US Navy Fighter Attack Squadron artwork, used in the F/A-18c Hornet livery: