What do you think?
Rate this book
Tomcat Fury: A Combat History of the F-14
From the Gulf of Sidra to the skies over Afghanistan, Tomcat Fury is the complete combat history of the F-14 Tomcat, as told by the pilots who flew it.
For more than three decades, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy's premier carrier-based, multirole fighter jet. From its harrowing combat missions over Libya to its appearance on the silver screen in movies like Top Gun and Executive Decision, the F-14 has become an icon of American air power.
Now, for the first time in a single volume, Tomcat Fury explores the illustrious combat history of the F-14, from the Gulf of Sidra to the Iran-Iraq War to the skies over Afghanistan in the Global War on Terror.
For more than three decades, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy's premier carrier-based, multirole fighter jet. From its harrowing combat missions over Libya to its appearance on the silver screen in movies like Top Gun and Executive Decision, the F-14 has become an icon of American air power.
Now, for the first time in a single volume, Tomcat Fury explores the illustrious combat history of the F-14, from the Gulf of Sidra to the Iran-Iraq War to the skies over Afghanistan in the Global War on Terror.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2019
222 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Mike Guardia
31 books120 followersMike Guardia is an internationally recognized author and military historian. A veteran of the United States Army, he served six years on active duty as an Armor Officer. He is the author of the widely-acclaimed "Hal Moore: A Soldier Once...and Always," the first-ever biography chronicling the life of LTG Harold G. Moore, whose battlefield leadership was popularized by the film "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson.
He has twice been nominated for the Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Book Award and is an active member of the Military Writers Society of America.
As a speaker, he hosts the lecture series "Hal Moore: Lessons in Leadership," which is available for presentation at schools, businesses, and civic organizations worldwide. Mike Guardia has given presentations at the US Special Operations Command and the International Spy Museum. His work has been reviewed in the Washington Times, Armchair General, ARMY Magazine, DefenceWeb South Africa, and Miniature Wargames UK.
He holds a BA and MA in American History from the University of Houston. He currently lives in Texas.
He has twice been nominated for the Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Book Award and is an active member of the Military Writers Society of America.
As a speaker, he hosts the lecture series "Hal Moore: Lessons in Leadership," which is available for presentation at schools, businesses, and civic organizations worldwide. Mike Guardia has given presentations at the US Special Operations Command and the International Spy Museum. His work has been reviewed in the Washington Times, Armchair General, ARMY Magazine, DefenceWeb South Africa, and Miniature Wargames UK.
He holds a BA and MA in American History from the University of Houston. He currently lives in Texas.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 18, 2019
Tomcat Baby!
Tomcat Fury is a book about the F-14 fighter jet. All its specifications, history, attributes, and potential. This is a very detailed and thorough look at this remarkable fighting jet. The reader will feel like an expert themselves by the end, having gleaned from the author's profound knowledge about such a particular subject.
And that's what must have drawn me in in the beginning. I was excited to know so much about something that almost everyone is aware of, but truthfully knows so very little about. Now I can speak confidently about the F-14, and even a few other military jets, and be proud of my newfound knowledge.
The author does a great job not making this book boring. The way he chronicles the battles and fights that the Tomcat were in will keep your attention and fascinate you. I was happy to read about the bravery and skill that these pilots displayed to protect the country. This whole book is somehow very inspirational. Just the magnitude of power that we are capable of had me struck every chapter.
Tomcat Fury is a book about the F-14 fighter jet. All its specifications, history, attributes, and potential. This is a very detailed and thorough look at this remarkable fighting jet. The reader will feel like an expert themselves by the end, having gleaned from the author's profound knowledge about such a particular subject.
And that's what must have drawn me in in the beginning. I was excited to know so much about something that almost everyone is aware of, but truthfully knows so very little about. Now I can speak confidently about the F-14, and even a few other military jets, and be proud of my newfound knowledge.
The author does a great job not making this book boring. The way he chronicles the battles and fights that the Tomcat were in will keep your attention and fascinate you. I was happy to read about the bravery and skill that these pilots displayed to protect the country. This whole book is somehow very inspirational. Just the magnitude of power that we are capable of had me struck every chapter.
October 23, 2019
A MG. Combat Military Aircraft (F-14) Aviation Action Adventure (TF) (ACHOTF-14)
MG. has penned a combat military aircraft (F-14) aviation action historical adventure as reported by the pilots who flew them from North Africa to the numerous countries of the Middle East. The aircraft was flow in the Lybian crisis, Kuwait, first and second Gulf wars which encompassed Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. The combat effectiveness at the time was unparalleled. The stories reported by combat pilots are second to none. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
MG. has penned a combat military aircraft (F-14) aviation action historical adventure as reported by the pilots who flew them from North Africa to the numerous countries of the Middle East. The aircraft was flow in the Lybian crisis, Kuwait, first and second Gulf wars which encompassed Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. The combat effectiveness at the time was unparalleled. The stories reported by combat pilots are second to none. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
September 21, 2019
Very nice summary of The Tomcat's service record
Happy I bought this book as a fan of the Tomcat. The book lays out in just the right amount of detail the F-14 Tomcat's combat exploits for the U.S. Navy and Iran.
Happy I bought this book as a fan of the Tomcat. The book lays out in just the right amount of detail the F-14 Tomcat's combat exploits for the U.S. Navy and Iran.
October 6, 2020
A combat log of the F-14. Good, detailed histories of the two Gulf of Sidra incidents, and other engagements of the Tomcat. Really entertaining read, and well researched.
Read
March 22, 2021MWSA Review
Grumman’s F-14 Tomcat prowled above war-torn lands and patrolled the troubled skies above conflicted seas worldwide for 33 years, operating mostly from aircraft carriers. The Tomcat’s electronic and human eyes spied on regional battles and at times pounced with deadly accuracy, making a positive difference. Though, according to the author, the leashed cat, never experienced its potential. The book, Tomcat Fury, by Mike Guardia is far more than just a book about a fighter plane. The masterfully crafted story is about a Navy fighter aircraft built to replace the Vietnam battle-worn and earlier generation fighters. The author, however, expands his narrative beyond just describing a formidable fighter by adding in-depth descriptive geopolitical history as seen through the prowling cats’ eyes.
This book is an excellent, detailed, American military history lesson covering a period leading up to 1973 and the F-14’s first operational flights to the cat’s sudden retirement seven months following its final aerial kill during Desert Storm in 2006. Iran, the only other nation to purchase F-14s, might have caused this aircraft to compete against itself. Details are revealed. One hundred and eleven carefully selected, mostly full-color photos, in high resolution, are properly located in the text accompanied with ample captions. Combat engagements are described in detail, which in some cases places the reader in the cockpit or, in one revealing episode, on the ground as two F-14 crewmembers scramble to avoid capture following being shot down behind enemy lines. Crewmember names and combat engagement details are fully revealed from the author’s in-depth research. With a slightly larger format and hardcover, this book, pridefully, would grace any coffee table.
Review by Tom Beard (March 2021)
Grumman’s F-14 Tomcat prowled above war-torn lands and patrolled the troubled skies above conflicted seas worldwide for 33 years, operating mostly from aircraft carriers. The Tomcat’s electronic and human eyes spied on regional battles and at times pounced with deadly accuracy, making a positive difference. Though, according to the author, the leashed cat, never experienced its potential. The book, Tomcat Fury, by Mike Guardia is far more than just a book about a fighter plane. The masterfully crafted story is about a Navy fighter aircraft built to replace the Vietnam battle-worn and earlier generation fighters. The author, however, expands his narrative beyond just describing a formidable fighter by adding in-depth descriptive geopolitical history as seen through the prowling cats’ eyes.
This book is an excellent, detailed, American military history lesson covering a period leading up to 1973 and the F-14’s first operational flights to the cat’s sudden retirement seven months following its final aerial kill during Desert Storm in 2006. Iran, the only other nation to purchase F-14s, might have caused this aircraft to compete against itself. Details are revealed. One hundred and eleven carefully selected, mostly full-color photos, in high resolution, are properly located in the text accompanied with ample captions. Combat engagements are described in detail, which in some cases places the reader in the cockpit or, in one revealing episode, on the ground as two F-14 crewmembers scramble to avoid capture following being shot down behind enemy lines. Crewmember names and combat engagement details are fully revealed from the author’s in-depth research. With a slightly larger format and hardcover, this book, pridefully, would grace any coffee table.
Review by Tom Beard (March 2021)
February 7, 2021
Thankful and Heartfelt
As someone who was trained to shoot down aircraft and then latter trained to call in CAS missions, the F-14 was the most feared and respected platform. This book provides a clear and concise story of the F-14 that any reader can truly appreciate. Now we just need a book that discusses how decisions made in the late 1980s and early 1990s lead to the decline of Naval Aviation to a point of crisis that the pentagon still to this day refuses to publicly acknowledge. That is the ability of Naval aircraft to project power, strength and fear to our enemies without placing the carrier at their front door and still not have enough gas to do half of the missions that could be accomplished in the early 2000s. The F-14 was the true multi role aircraft the Navy was looking for and needed, which unfortunately the F/A-18 nor the F-35 will ever be able to accomplish.
As someone who was trained to shoot down aircraft and then latter trained to call in CAS missions, the F-14 was the most feared and respected platform. This book provides a clear and concise story of the F-14 that any reader can truly appreciate. Now we just need a book that discusses how decisions made in the late 1980s and early 1990s lead to the decline of Naval Aviation to a point of crisis that the pentagon still to this day refuses to publicly acknowledge. That is the ability of Naval aircraft to project power, strength and fear to our enemies without placing the carrier at their front door and still not have enough gas to do half of the missions that could be accomplished in the early 2000s. The F-14 was the true multi role aircraft the Navy was looking for and needed, which unfortunately the F/A-18 nor the F-35 will ever be able to accomplish.
December 7, 2022
The Tomcat is a very special and beautiful airplane. It is powerful, it has presence and just looks like the ultimate fighter jet. This iconic plane even became more famous in the film TopGun, where it was as much an actor as Tom Cruise. Unfortunately there are hardly any survivors: no more than a handful scattered around a few aviation museums, mainly in the US. Nearly all the Tomcats have been shredded after its retirement in 2006. This was necessary because the US military did not want critical internal components fall in the hands of Iranian arms dealers on the black market. Allegedly the IRIAF stil operates a handful of F-14s.
For more than three decades the F-14 Tomcat delivered agile and aggressive firepower against America’s (and NATO’s) enemies in the skies. The Tomcat earned a formidable reputation among friend and foe alike. That reputation endures today.
For more than three decades the F-14 Tomcat delivered agile and aggressive firepower against America’s (and NATO’s) enemies in the skies. The Tomcat earned a formidable reputation among friend and foe alike. That reputation endures today.
September 22, 2021
I’ve been working my way through military aviation from WWII, and finally arrived at one of the most iconic fighters of all time. This was a great, informative and entertaining read about the history of the F-14 Tomcat from inception to retirement, which focuses on several key conflicts and theaters in which it flew. An enjoyable listen.
March 8, 2024
Very enjoyable read from a gifted author. Lots of detail and background and action accounts well told and explained. Very pro-American and pro-Tomcat, but this is an observation not a criticism; indeed the author's passion is one of the main things that makes it a good book.
September 3, 2022
Excellent. If you like Top Gun, you’ll enjoy this book.
October 6, 2025
Somewhat interesting but quite dry account of the combat history of the Tomcat.
February 14, 2021
The Last of the Cats at War
Good book for the novice wanting to know in what combat the F-14 participated. If you are looking for tactics analysis of the Tomcat and its pilots, another book would likely be better. Likely a good reference for those seeking squadron and pilot identification of the actions listed.
Good book for the novice wanting to know in what combat the F-14 participated. If you are looking for tactics analysis of the Tomcat and its pilots, another book would likely be better. Likely a good reference for those seeking squadron and pilot identification of the actions listed.
September 30, 2019
The F-14 Tomcat fighter plane, made famous by the movie "Top Gun", was a workhorse of the US military for 30 years. Here is its story.
Made by Grumman Aerospace in New York, it rolled off the assembly line in the mid-1970's. It was intended as a carrier-based bomber replacement for the F-4 Phantom, which had reached the end of its lifespan. It was involved in the tail end of the Vietnam War, mostly in a recon and support capacity.
The F-14 got its first taste of combat in 1981's Gulf of Sidra incident. Muammar Qaddafi declared the entire Gulf to be Libyan territorial waters. The problem was that the entire Gulf was many times bigger than what can be declared territorial waters, according to international law.
The Shah of Iran was a good friend of America. He needed modern weapons to counter Iraq, so he bought many F-14's, along with spare parts. After US-Iranian relations collapsed, and America backed Iraq in the Iran/Iraq war, America cut off all access to F-14 spare parts, forcing Iran to cannibalize their planes to keep some of them in the air.
The F-14 was not used very much during Operation Desert Storm, but it made up for it in Afghanistan and Iraq, flying thousands of sorties. It, too, reached the end of its lifespan, and, in 2006, the F-14 was retired. All surviving planes and spare parts were intentionally destroyed to prevent rogue nations, like Iran, from getting their hands on them.
This is a very specialized book. For those with any sort of military connection, whether historian, veteran or enthusiast, this book is a Must Read. The military jargon is kept to a reasonable level.
Made by Grumman Aerospace in New York, it rolled off the assembly line in the mid-1970's. It was intended as a carrier-based bomber replacement for the F-4 Phantom, which had reached the end of its lifespan. It was involved in the tail end of the Vietnam War, mostly in a recon and support capacity.
The F-14 got its first taste of combat in 1981's Gulf of Sidra incident. Muammar Qaddafi declared the entire Gulf to be Libyan territorial waters. The problem was that the entire Gulf was many times bigger than what can be declared territorial waters, according to international law.
The Shah of Iran was a good friend of America. He needed modern weapons to counter Iraq, so he bought many F-14's, along with spare parts. After US-Iranian relations collapsed, and America backed Iraq in the Iran/Iraq war, America cut off all access to F-14 spare parts, forcing Iran to cannibalize their planes to keep some of them in the air.
The F-14 was not used very much during Operation Desert Storm, but it made up for it in Afghanistan and Iraq, flying thousands of sorties. It, too, reached the end of its lifespan, and, in 2006, the F-14 was retired. All surviving planes and spare parts were intentionally destroyed to prevent rogue nations, like Iran, from getting their hands on them.
This is a very specialized book. For those with any sort of military connection, whether historian, veteran or enthusiast, this book is a Must Read. The military jargon is kept to a reasonable level.
September 30, 2019
Great Recount of the F-14's Accomplishments
This is a fascinating book for the Military History buff in your family!
From the initial concept, design and development of the Grumman Tomcat in 1974, to the retirement of the aircraft from active duty 32 years later, this plane has flown thousands of missions for the United States Armed Forces.
It was one of the most useful and ingenious designs of its day. It was featured on the silver screen many times as a symbol of the air power of the U.S. The Tomcat was effectively used in all the conflicts in the Middle East, to the point where even the sound of the engines could disperse an unfriendly crowd and buy time for soldiers in the ground to make good decisions.
The F-14 still stands as one of the most successful designs of carrier based aircraft ever built. Multiple upgrades carried her far beyond her expected useful lifespan in the air, and she fulfilled roles as varied as ground-attack, ocean interceptor, and air fighter.
The book also contains some striking photos of the F-14 in action, including air maneuvers, combat action and design features. The pictures may not do justice to this versatile aircraft, but they come pretty close.
I found the interviews to be extremely interesting, apparently factual and still part of the great.story about this airplane.
If you enjoy military history that reads like a great story, or just like the story aspect of a historical perspective, read this fascinating book, written by someone who clearly has great respect for and first hand experience with the F-14.
This is a fascinating book for the Military History buff in your family!
From the initial concept, design and development of the Grumman Tomcat in 1974, to the retirement of the aircraft from active duty 32 years later, this plane has flown thousands of missions for the United States Armed Forces.
It was one of the most useful and ingenious designs of its day. It was featured on the silver screen many times as a symbol of the air power of the U.S. The Tomcat was effectively used in all the conflicts in the Middle East, to the point where even the sound of the engines could disperse an unfriendly crowd and buy time for soldiers in the ground to make good decisions.
The F-14 still stands as one of the most successful designs of carrier based aircraft ever built. Multiple upgrades carried her far beyond her expected useful lifespan in the air, and she fulfilled roles as varied as ground-attack, ocean interceptor, and air fighter.
The book also contains some striking photos of the F-14 in action, including air maneuvers, combat action and design features. The pictures may not do justice to this versatile aircraft, but they come pretty close.
I found the interviews to be extremely interesting, apparently factual and still part of the great.story about this airplane.
If you enjoy military history that reads like a great story, or just like the story aspect of a historical perspective, read this fascinating book, written by someone who clearly has great respect for and first hand experience with the F-14.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews