Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Grumman F-14B
162912
| | Grissom Air Museum | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026
1. Grumman F-14B Marker
Manufacture: Grumman
Designation: F-14B
Serial Number: 162912
Official name: Tomcat
Nicknames: Turkey, Tomkitty, Cat, Tomgrape, Bombcat (when capable of air to ground), Peeping Tom (when fitted with TARPS reconnaissance pod)
Function: Air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform.
Cost: $38 million (1988)
Crew: 2, Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer (RIO
) Wingspan: Spread: 64ft Swept: 38ft
Length: 62ft 9in
Height: 16ft
Power plant: 2 x General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
Thrust: Dry thrust: 16,610lbf each, Thrust with afterburner: 28,200lbf
Empty weight: 43,735lb
Max T/O weight: 74,350lb
Service ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Range: Combat radius: 500nmi, Ferry range: 1,600nmi
Armament: Guns: 1x 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, with 675 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: 6x under-fuselage, 2x under nacelles and 2x on wing gloves with a capacity of 14,500lb of ordnance and fuel tanks.
Missiles: Air-to-air missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder, MIM-23 Hawk
Bombs: JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs,
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Others: Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS), LANTIRN targeting pod, 2x 267 US gal (1,010 1; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time.
Number Built: 712
Year built: Our F-14B, 1988
Year retired: Our F-14B, April, 20 2005. The official final flight retirement ceremony for the F-14 fleet was on 22 September 2006.
Mission:
The F-14 Tomcat was designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor, which enabled it to both serve as escort attack aircraft when armed with Sparrow missiles and fleet air defense loitering interceptor role when armed with Phoenix missiles. The F-14 was designed with a two-seat cockpit with a bubble canopy which affords all-around visibility aiding aircrew in air-to-air combat. It features variable geometry wings that swing automatically during flight. For high-speed intercept, they are swept back and they swing forward for lower speed flight. At around 35 tons fully loaded, and able to track up to 24 targets simultaneously, all while being capable of high
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026
2. Grumman F-14B and Marker
Our F-14B:
Constructed at Grumman's Bethpage NY facility in November of 1988. Her first assignment was with VF-24 (Fixed Wing Fighter, Squadron 24), NAS San Diego. During her shakedown she served mostly in Oceana, VA with VF-101, VF-102, VF-142, and VF-143. In February of 1999, she was assigned her final Squadron, VF-11. Our F-14B made three combat deployments off the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy in support of operation Enduring Freedom. The "101" on her nose indicates she was with the 1st Squadron, and the "01" was reserved for Squadron Commanders. She was struck off charge from the Navy on April 20th, 2005. On loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola FL, she now rests here looking every bit the killer cat she was built to be.
This exhibit is the property of the US Navy and maintained through your participation in the Grissom Air Museum donor program.
Erected by Grissom Air Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military.
Location. 40° 40.129′ N, 86° 7.763′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Boulevard, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Douglas TA-4J (here, next to this marker); The Convair B-58 "Texas Hustler" Rocket Sled (here, next to this marker); Safe Ramp Tower (a few steps from this marker); Bell Aircraft Corporation UH-1H-BF (within shouting distance of this marker); Boeing EC-135L (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); EC-135L (within shouting distance of this marker); North American Aviation F-100C (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A full view photo of the subject aircraft. • Can you help?
