Navy·Weapon system retired·In Memoriam
F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer
RIO
Served: 1972–2006
Ran the AWG-9 radar — the only fighter radar in the world that could simultaneously track 24 targets and engage 6 at BVR with AIM-54 Phoenix missiles.
The Story
The very last F-14 cat-shot off a US carrier was flown by LCDR Chris Richard with LT Mike "Mooch" Petronis in the back, USS *Theodore Roosevelt*, July 2006. Petronis was the RIO on both of the type's final two carrier launches. He flew the Tomcat out.
Epitaph
“Goose. Slider. Merlin. All real callsigns, all on the wall at Miramar.”
Sources
- Wikipedia — Grumman F-14 Tomcaten.wikipedia.org