By Shelly Sikes Diaz, NAVAIR Depot, Jacksonville Public Affairs Specialist

Naval Air Depot, Jacksonville bid farewell to an old friend and long time Fleet warrior on June 24, 2004. A ceremony was held in Hangar 117 to commemorate the last F-14 Tomcat overhaul completed at the Depot. The Jacksonville Depot has been the designated center for rework and repair of the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat since 1994.

Lt. Cdr. Kimberly Dyson acted as adjutant for the ceremony where the last F-14 was displayed just inside the hangar doors. Depot Commanding Officer, Capt. David Beck, provided the keynote address. The area was standing room only as employees wearing commemorative F-14 shirts packed the area. Rick Theilacker, Strike Fighter product manager, spoke about his experiences working with the artisans on the aircraft. Chris Frayser, program manager for the F-14 program, and other special guests and dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Capt. Beck began his remarks by welcoming the crowd and noting that the ceremony lacked some of the formality of a typical military event. He explained that he wanted the ceremony to reflect the way the Depot produced the aircraft, “in a hangar, down to earth, and about the artisan and the F-14.” He gave the crowd a brief history of the F-14 Tomcat and praised the employees for their role in maintaining the aircraft for the fleet. He closed his speech by referring to the Tomcat as the “rock star of the aviation world…good looking, fast, and making appearances in movies and on MTV.” He acknowledged that the aircraft would hold a special place in the hearts of many in Jacksonville and aviation enthusiasts world wide.

Theilacker, who supervised employees working on the F-14 line, said that he was not inclined to feel particularly emotional about machinery. He did provide three exceptions, “the 1965 Mustang, the 1968 Camaro, and the F-14 Tomcat.” He thanked the artisans and asked, “all those who ever turned a wrench on a Tomcat to stand for a round of applause.”

At the end of the ceremony Lt. Cdr. Dyson asked the crowd to rise for departure honors. SK1 Travice Anderson tolled the bell while artisans towed the aircraft out of the hangar. Many in the crowd cheered and applauded through sentimental tears.

The F-14 Tomcat is expected to continue serving the fleet until 2007. Although their will be no more major depot level maintenance performed on the Tomcat, the Jacksonville Depot will continue to provide field service support and supply components to the fleet.