Uniondale in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

F-14 Tomcat

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025

1. F-14 Tomcat Marker

Inscription.

F-14 Tomcat. . , “Honoring our legacy…celebrating the spirit of innovation…inspiring our future” , First flight: December 21, 1970 . Bob Smyth/Bill Miller (Grumman Corporation) , Final flight: October 4, 2006 . LCDR Chris Richard/LCDR Bob Gentry (Fighter Squadron 31) , On December 21, 1970, at Grumman Corporation's flight test center in Calverton, NY, company test pilots Bob Smyth and Bill Miller started the F-14 Tomcat on a 36-year journey to faithfully serve our country. On October 4, 2006, after over-flying Calverton and the Northrop Grumman facility in Bethpage, NY, LCDR Chris Richard and LCDR Bob Gentry brought that journey to an end here at the Tomcat's Long Island birthplace. , During its distinguished career, the Tomcat supported the withdrawal from Vietnam, became famous in one-sided encounters with enemy fighters, intercepted terrorists in the skies over the Mediterranean, and contributed immeasurably to the war in Southwest Asia on its final deployment. The Tomcat even became a Hollywood star in the movie “Top Gun.” , Many current and former employees share a personal attachment to this great aircraft. Designed, built and flown in just two years, the Tomcat is considered by many as the finest fighter to ever fly in our nation's defense. Even today, the F-14 is still seen as one of the most elegant aerodynamic designs in aviation history. , This F-14D is number 711 of the 712 Tomcats built, and the last Navy Tomcat to ever fly. Delivered to the Navy on May 29, 1992, it completed its 14 years of service with VF-31, the last F-14 Squadron. This proud aircraft has now returned home to Long Island to become an enduring symbol of the spirit of innovation and teamwork, and to serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of what Northrop Grumman employees do every day to provide for our men and women in uniform. , For 36 years the F-14 Tomcat served our nation with honor, grace and unmatched capabilities. Our enemies feared its power and our nation's warfighters took great pride and comfort in knowing the Tomcat was “on-station” protecting freedom. Now, this last F-14 is “on-station” here, honoring past and present employees for their great contributions to this country, and inspiring future generations of Northrop Grumman employees to passionately achieve new levels of innovation in the continuing effort to provide our nation's warfighters with the unmatched capabilities they need to defend freedom. , “It is truly a comfortable feeling when I man the aircraft and look down at the rudder pedals and it says Grumman…I know that I am going to make it back.” , CDR James "Puck" Howe, Commanding Officer, Fighter Squadron 31 (last F-14 Squadron), This monument was designed and built through the coordinated efforts of the Grumman Retiree Club and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Special appreciation is extended to all those involved in the effort to bring our beloved F-14 Tomcat home to stay. , Grumman Retiree Club . Northrop Grumman Corporation . Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) . Grumman Memorial Park . American Airpower Museum . Republic Airport . Town of Oyster Bay . E3 Communications-Titan Group . SheltAir Aviation . New York State Police . New York State Dept. of Transportation . D&K Aviation . Bay Crane Service, Inc. . Sidney B. Bowne and Son, LLP . Saracino Construction Corp. . JVR Electric, Inc. . Creative Models and Prototypes . LongIslandWallpapers.com , This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL

“Honoring our legacy…celebrating the spirit of innovation…inspiring our future”

First flight: December 21, 1970 • Bob Smyth/Bill Miller (Grumman Corporation)
Final flight: October 4, 2006 • LCDR Chris Richard/LCDR Bob Gentry (Fighter Squadron 31)

On December 21, 1970, at Grumman Corporation's flight test center in Calverton, NY, company test pilots Bob Smyth and Bill Miller started the F-14 Tomcat on a 36-year journey to faithfully serve our country. On October 4, 2006, after over-flying Calverton and the Northrop Grumman facility in Bethpage, NY, LCDR Chris Richard and LCDR Bob Gentry brought that journey to an end here at the Tomcat's Long Island birthplace.

During its distinguished career, the Tomcat supported the withdrawal from Vietnam, became famous in one-sided encounters with enemy fighters, intercepted terrorists in the skies over the Mediterranean, and contributed immeasurably to the war in Southwest Asia on its final deployment. The Tomcat even became a Hollywood star in the movie “Top Gun.”

Many current and former employees share a personal attachment to this great aircraft. Designed, built and flown in

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just two years, the Tomcat is considered by many as the finest fighter to ever fly in our nation's defense. Even today, the F-14 is still seen as one of the most elegant aerodynamic designs in aviation history.

This F-14D is number 711 of the 712 Tomcats built, and the last Navy Tomcat to ever fly. Delivered to the Navy on May 29, 1992, it completed its 14 years of service with VF-31, the last F-14 Squadron. This proud aircraft has now returned home to Long Island to become an enduring symbol of the spirit of innovation and teamwork, and to serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of what Northrop Grumman employees do every day to provide for our men and women in uniform.

For 36 years the F-14 Tomcat served our nation with honor, grace and unmatched capabilities. Our enemies feared its power and our nation's warfighters took great pride and comfort in knowing the Tomcat was “on-station” protecting freedom. Now, this last F-14 is “on-station” here, honoring past and present employees for their great contributions to this country, and inspiring future generations of Northrop Grumman employees to passionately achieve new levels

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025

2. F-14 Tomcat Marker

The marker is located under the nose of the historic plane.

of innovation in the continuing effort to provide our nation's warfighters with the unmatched capabilities they need to defend freedom.

“It is truly a comfortable feeling when I man the aircraft and look down at the rudder pedals and it says Grumman…I know that I am going to make it back.”
CDR James "Puck" Howe, Commanding Officer, Fighter Squadron 31 (last F-14 Squadron)

This monument was designed and built through the coordinated efforts of the Grumman Retiree Club and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Special appreciation is extended to all those involved in the effort to bring our beloved F-14 Tomcat home to stay.

Grumman Retiree Club • Northrop Grumman Corporation • Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) • Grumman Memorial Park • American Airpower Museum • Republic Airport • Town of Oyster Bay • E3 Communications-Titan Group • SheltAir Aviation • New York State Police • New York State Dept. of Transportation • D&K Aviation • Bay Crane Service, Inc. • Sidney B. Bowne and Son, LLP • Saracino Construction Corp. • JVR Electric, Inc. • Creative Models & Prototypes • LongIslandWallpapers.com

This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025

3. F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat is located at the entrance to Uniondale's Museum Row, and the Cradle of Aviation Museum, located on the grounds of the former Mitchel Field.

of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL

Erected 2023.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is December 21, 1970.

Location. 40° 43.644′ N, 73° 35.854′ W. Marker is in Uniondale, New York, in Nassau County. It can be reached from Charles Lindbergh Boulevard just west of Library Road West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Uniondale NY 11553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named F-14 Tomcat (here, next to this marker); Mitchel Field (here, next to this marker); Aviation Field No. 2 (within shouting

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025

4. F-14 Tomcat

A close-up of the F-14 Tomcat, along with a second historic marker.

distance of this marker); Lindbergh's Flight (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mitchel Field (within shouting distance of this marker); Sally Ride (within shouting distance of this marker); First Blind Takeoff, Flight and Landing, 1929 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mitchel Field Air Force Base (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Uniondale.

Also see . . . Last F-14 Tomcat in US Navy Service Now on Display at The Cradle of Aviation Museum.

On September 14 [2023], the Cradle of Aviation Museum inaugurated the outdoor F-14 Tomcat display with the participation of local authorities and former naval aviators. “Felix 101,” the last F-14 Tomcat in US Navy service, moved to the museum in Uniondale over the summer of 2022 and its restoration was completed later in October.

(Submitted on September 27, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 27, 2025

5. F-14 Tomcat Marker

The upper panel of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.