Changes

F-14s were also active over the [[Persian Gulf]] when the US was escorting oil tankers in [[Operation Earnest Will]].  On August 8, 1987, an [[Iran]]ian F-4 Phantom, a type which had been involved in strikes on shipping before, get a little close and two F-14s from the USS ''Constellation'' fired two Sparrow missiles.  One missile malfunctioned, and the Phantom crew evaded the other and escaped.<ref>''Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat'', by Farzad Bishop and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>

F-14s were also active over the [[Persian Gulf]] when the US was escorting oil tankers in [[Operation Earnest Will]].  On August 8, 1987, an [[Iran]]ian F-4 Phantom, a type which had been involved in strikes on shipping before, get a little close and two F-14s from the USS ''Constellation'' fired two Sparrow missiles.  One missile malfunctioned, and the Phantom crew evaded the other and escaped.<ref>''Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat'', by Farzad Bishop and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>

During the [[Gulf War]], F-14s were mainly involved in standing combat air patrols over the fleet and escorting strike packages.  One Tomcat was shot down by an Iraqi [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]], the RIO being captured, but the pilot was rescued.  On February 6, 1991, a Navy pilot off the USS ''Ranger'' scored the F-14’s final air-to-air victory ever in this conflict, an Mi-8 helicopter.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-14-combat.htm F-14 Tomcat Combat]</ref>  Coincidentally, the F-14’s very first air-to-air victory was also an Iraqi helicopter, shot down by an Iranian Tomcat in the first days of the [[Iran-Iraq War]].

During the [[Gulf War]], F-14s were mainly involved in standing combat air patrols over the fleet and escorting strike packages.  One Tomcat was shot down by an Iraqi [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]], the RIO being captured, but the pilot was rescued.  On February 6, 1991, a Navy pilot off the USS ''Ranger'' scored the F-14's final air-to-air victory ever in this conflict, an Mi-8 helicopter.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-14-combat.htm F-14 Tomcat Combat]</ref>  Coincidentally, the F-14's very first air-to-air victory was also an Iraqi helicopter, shot down by an Iranian Tomcat in the first days of the [[Iran-Iraq War]].