22. Firing the AIM-54 in Anger

F-14 Tomcast

The AIM-54 Phoenix missile was a major part of the F-14 program: it affected the Tomcat’s design and was the weapon that gave the Tomcat its unique and most impressive capabilities. During the Tomcat’s three-plus decades of service with the US Navy, however, American crews had only three combat Phoenix launches, and none of them were successful. Our guest was one of those shooters.

We interview “Jumby” Castleton, the lead RIO in a section of F-14Ds that attacked Iraqi aircraft in January 1999 during Operation Southern Watch. While the Phoenix didn’t score a kill, the tactics used by the Tomcat crews, and the Hornet crews with them, make a great story!

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