Tomcats and Task Force 20: Secret F-14 Missions in Iraq 

I was a nuke electrician's mate onboard USS Augusta (SSN-710) during this time, on station in the Red Sea, along with a whole host of other subs and surface ships. We all launched our Tomahawks in the middle of the night. I got someone to come back to the engine room and relieve me so that I could run up to crew's mess and watch the last tomahawk being shot. The flatscreen tv was tied in to the periscope view, so as we launched our last shot, I saw a dark green glow trailing out under the surface in front of us, and then it briefly disappeared, then BAM - it broke through the surface and whited out the screen as it ascended. Since it was our last shot, the officer just ended up watching it as it screamed up into the night. Once it got quite far away, at that point we could all see countless other little points of light in the sky, all moving with great haste in the same direction as our shot. I will never forget what that looked like.

I like this amigos of Mooch series...these guys have great stories about important events, sadly many veterans are dying off before they get to tell their stories

Ward, I was one of the Air Force munitions guys that supported those F-14's at Al Udeid during this!!!! It was a great experience to learn how the Air Force and Navy did things differently. One funny story is that one night I was delivering argon bottles for the aim-9 and drive up right next to the parking spot with no f-14 in sight. I am doing the exchange and all of a sudden an f-14 starts taxing into the spot and the Air Force is not used to close proximity like the Navy. The RIO is dying laughing at me as I lean back over my truck wide-eyed while they taxied in five feet from my truck. I was with the F-16's.

My laptop now plays “All Hands on deck” when a new Ward Carroll video pops up!

Flatley was my CO! I was in 154 from 03 to 06. I was there through the transition to the supers and the 3rd Black Knight Super Hornet Plane Captain. Wow he was my favorite CO. Super chill. But Master Chief Holbroke…. As an honest airmen, being punished with the worst airmen didn’t rub me well. So im part of the non fan club! Lol. But those were crazy times in the squadron! Senior Decell pushed us to the brink of our abilities and i learned a lot during that time. Lessons that were hard but i still use today! Great job shedding light on this very little known operation! Black Knights Rule Baby!!

Something that sticks out in this episode is the inter service co-operation. We sometimes get so parocrhial that we look at the other squadrons in the air wing as competitors. That's bad thinking and can be self defeating.

The Flatley’s are incredible. Knowing about the RADM Flatley and his son, RADM Flatley III, seeing the third-in-line and getting to know him through this video is just amazing. Hell of a job, Ward.

I served in VF-154 from 1998-2001. I had the pleasure of knowing and working for at that time CDR Flatley. It was great watching this video and seeing my old shipmates. This video was a time machine for me and got to enjoy it with my wife. Even though there were no pics of me (which I don’t care) it was amazing to show her something I was apart of that she had only heard my sea stories of. Thank you again and glad to see Captain Flatley is doing well.

The ability to keep the plane's flying with that op tempo is remarkable! The Tomcat is truly an amazing aircraft.

The aviators (Pilots and RIOs) get the glory, but they couldn't do it with out the maintainers doing their jobs. A good Master Chief (is there any such thing as a bad one ?) can make or break things.

Thank you Mr. Carrol. And Skipper Flatley for this Video. I was an Airframer in 154 from 2000 to 2004. I am able to show this to my kids so can kinda understand what we were doing. Thank you gentlemen again BKR. ANY KNIGHT BABY!

Mooch, LOOOOOVE the Wonder Twins/Justice League reference. Suddenly it's a Saturday morning in 1976, and I'm back in front of the 27" RCA TV.

TF-20, now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

Seamus was a stash ensign in my squadron before he started flight training, I think he got a few subsonic flights while he was there. Sparky

Wow....@Ward Carroll - thank you for doing this one, it brings back a lot of memories and some names I hadn't heard or thought of in a while. ..I was at Al Udeid as a dark grey/Eagle WSO (out of Seymour). I had a lot of great side by sides with my USN RIO counterparts doing some off the books LANTIRN training since we had a different gouge with it...and it made my job easier once the shooting started because I was able to just run the system I needed. I grew up with a quote by Capt. (USAF) Harold Icke "It's a hell of a story. I just hope that it's told someday"....and as we get further and further away from OIF I've always felt the same way about our (ALL the air components) support of TF20, and the guys op'ing in the desert. -Hap

A very enterprising dude has actually made all of the VF-154 liveries from 2003 available for download in DCS.

We all love these episodes explaining the inside stories we can count on Ward to know the people to go to. Keep up the great work.⚓💪🇺🇸🖖✌😎🐕🐕🐕🐕

Great Naval Aviation Story. One part that really stood out to me was the mention of the Maintenance Master Chief that came out of retirement to square away the Squadron Maintenance Department . I think that is the first time I have ever heard how important that position is to the squadron publicly in this content. Being a retired Maintenance Master Chief myself brought back many memories. Thanks for making my day.

VF-154 operated off the Coral Sea during the Iran hostage crises.... They shot off the carrier with steam I created.

Doin the deed. Bunch of fantastic guys. I was there with the RAAF.

Can’t get enough. Awesome. Just awesome. Could listen to this all day. Amigos of Mooch…Good one, sir. 😉😁

The Baath Party headquarters in Najaf was bombed by F-14's in April 2003. I remember being informed that this building was going to be hit some time in the afternoon. I was surprised to see 2 Tomcats arrive to do the work. The building was....this was 19 years ago....if I remember 3 stories tall and was hit smack in the middle of the roof. It looked like it had been stepped on by a big foot! It caught fire a little bit and then what was left was looted. Nice work Navy.

Hell yeah Chief Hulbert knew him from VF-32 1983 to 1985. Yeah him and Chief Winnings were kick ass Maintenance Control leaders.

I am just brimming with pride and respect for my brother. He graduated from the Academy over 30 years ago and is still active. He is a RIO. He started in the F-14, then the Super Hornet. He was on the USS Enterprise on 9/11. They were on their way home from what was supposed to be a 6 mo. cruise. Over the years, I've never really asked questions about what he's done or where he's been. He could only share so much anyway. What he was doing was on a need to know basis...and I didn't need to know. When he and his family come home for visits, he's just a normal, everyday guy. (With some added perks lol. Recently, we had the opportunity to meet & and get a photo with the Blue Angels at an air show! That was very cool! 🤩) Watching your videos is an incredible insight into what he was really involved in over the years. It's a level of reality that is far beyond me. It's funny to think back to when we were kids (in the 70's). His favorite game to play was Battleship. He was always so strategic about where he put his ships and how he would figure out where mine were lol. Needless to say, he always won. Who knew at the time what he would grow up and become. I have an immeasurable amount of respect and gratitude for all of our service members and their families. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

I worked with a guy who was a Special Forces medic (Reserves). He got called to active duty during this time frame. We had very infrequent communication with him. He said, "I can't tell you where I am, but it's really cold at night and really hot during the day". He was gone for over a year (if my memory serves) but was eventually released and came back to our place of work. Sounds like these guys might have been helping he and his pals out.

I am so glad you made it through all that Mr Flatley, this country and the world would be much worse without good people like you.

Ward, a suggestion for your next book - "Carrier COs and how they got there - in their own words" - I'd buy it as well! Great stories, great leaders. Y'all mentioned some of the many COs I served under in this conversation.

Thanks for this interview. “Chili” Culpepper is my big brother, really neat hearing his skipper talk about their deployment ashore. FLY NAVY!

Great segment! Thanks for putting this episode together.

the Black Knight logo/icon, is one of the coolest yet...thanks for your service...

Thanks for another fantastic video/interview. I find these to be some of the most interesting of all the varied items you bring to the channel. Keep up the great work!

Amazing. Thank you Seamus and Ward for sharing all these fascinating stories.

By far, my best tour of duty. Great leadership and some of the best people I ever served with. So many great memories of my time in 154. From Doing the Deed in Al Udeid, captain cup softball to the transition to supers. The war cruise on the KItty Hawk was the most work and fun I ever had, even with no port calls. I never served under a better CO than Flatley. Best part of my Navy career. BKR

I immensely enjoy listening to these first hand accounts. Thank you very much!

F-14 video published 14 minutes ago... It's a sign. Thanks for the content Ward. Great stuff

Wow! Each episode gets better and better! Bravo!

Alright, now I want to know the details of the whole "RIO remembers it differently" story...

Thank you Mr. Ward, as always enjoyed the contents. Flatley’s story over Iraq and number of hours he put in. Must be his great dedication.

…wow… I still have my card deck!

Served with Vinny when he was CO of Oceana. I knew he jumped out of an airplane, but really interesting hearing exactly what transpired.

It’s a great day when there’s a new Mooch vid to watch, thanks!

⚓️ Thanks Seamus, Ward 😎 Wonderful to hear how the personalities are so crucial for the operations & the way it all fits together 🥸

As a NAVAIR vet myself (enlisted VS 28/CV62) it was great listening to you guys talk.

Another awesome video! Such interesting and unique content. Keep up the good work!

This was fascinating to watch/listen to. My dad was the Master Chief from the Maintenance shop. This was a unique opportunity to listen to stories about him. Thank you!!

Another fascinating interview. Keep 'em coming.

Man, you're spoiling us lately. Thanks for all of the excellent videos.

Very interesting the background information related to the event. Please keep up on these videos as they are extremely informative.

That was incredible, Ward.

Well looks like Flats and his boys flew the FAC-A for my people. CJSTOF-W. I was Team Leader for TPT-B61 with ODB520 5SFG (ref the film 12 Strong to see some of the players like COL "Bull" Mulholland) on the ground in Western IZ. Thanks, Flats, for bringing the rain! Y'all helped me drop my first JDAM!

Mooch, Really enjoy all your great presentations. It's great to see how former squadron-mates have done - Rowdy, Seamus, Rat, ... Keep up the great work.

As a LT, Capt. Flatley was one of our instructor pilots at VF-101 when I was Ops Dept./Intel LCPO. Haven't seen him face-to-face since 101's deactivation or Tomcat Sunset (can't remember which). Enjoyed the combat history, Skipper. You guys done good.

Best channel on youtube. -A DCS player and lover of aviation history

Great episode! Thank you much!

The scope and depth of knowledge required and the sharp attention needed to operate these glorious machines, correctly, will never cease to utterly amaze me. "We kind of had them at parade rest" made me howl, many thanks for that Ward and for sharing these candid discussions - these are priceless 👍🍻🇨🇦

Yet another excellent dialogue with AOM. Plenty of acronyms (with decode) and a chance to "feel" the thrill of being with the best of the best. Many thanks.

You're great soldiers. Salute to both of you! Thanks for sharing...

Good video Mooch and Seamus. Always interested in the aspects of the Gulf War.

Great to hear the RAAF (Australian Airforce) shout out ...

Absolutely love your videos Ward! Never really loved the Tomcat as much as I have learned to since watching your videos! Keep 'em coming!

another wonderful video Commander, Bravo, Paul

Thanks…what a story! Awesome! As a FAC in Vietnam, I can appreciate the drama of working with the Special Forces…no matter who or what they are…keep up the great work!

Thank you TF-20! I am enjoying the Friends Of Mooch series very much!

That was a real treat. Cheers gentlemen.

Thank you so much for a behind the scenes view of how this incredible mission went down, I had to replay a few items and stop to do some research, but really, how does a person go back to normal life after being a part this world, very impressive, thank you again for breaking things down so I could understand, thank you Captain Flately.

First time in many, many years I've heard the term "Gedunk". Brought back a few memories from 60 plus years ago. Thank you Ward Caroll!

Great 'rest of the story,' and damn straight about our military being effectively innovative -- thanks to both of you for sharing all of the complicated details and work-the-problem-on-the-fly anecdotes! I worked on the Coalition (C-130) ramp at Al Udeid summer of 2005 -- lucky to hang around with VAQ134, "Garudas" EA-6Bs when they came through.

Super cool episode! Never knew the Tomcat had any land based combat ops. As a former tank crewman of 20 years, I loved hearing about velcro and Garmin. 👍 Whatever gets the job done! Although we might have had to resort to 100 mph tape if Velcro not available in supply. Lol

Another great interview. BZ

Paul "war" Monger was my last skipper on Nimitz. He relieved Nasty

Your Chanel is the very best, in regards to modern day navel war. You and all the servicemen you talk with are hero’s!! It’s guys like you who have kept this country safe from bad actors! Thank you for your service!

Great video Ward Carroll, I served with CDR Flatley in VF-143 in 1996 before he transferred and went to another command. At that time I was an AD3 (Aviation Machinist Mate) 3rd class, and CAPT Flatley was at that time the MO (Maintenance Officer). I remember one day we were changing shifts in the shop and CAPT Flatley came in the shop and introduced us to his sons. He told them, "these guys are AD's and their a big part of the reason why I come home at night". CAPT Flatley always had the trust and respect of the ENTIRE Maintenance Dept. Thank you Ward, and CAPT Flatley for your service. Great video!Yes

Very good vid, really enjoyed it.

In my limited AF maintenance experience with the navy, I found anything can be had--for a price. The navy maintenance guys will wheel and deal.

Brilliant again ward thank you 🇬🇧👌

Another OUTSTANDING show.!

TY guys

Absolutely amazing stories. Thanks for sharing! 👍

As a young US Air Force historian, I wish I’d had this resource from an Air Force perspective. I would urge all young Naval Aviation historians to watch Commander Carroll’s videos.

Coming up on 20yr anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Thank you for gentlemen for sharing this with us. And I will fondly note on my birthday this year, April 3, that Seamus conducted the longest air combat mission ever of 11.5 hours on that day in 2003! Amazing!

Mooch, I have watched this a couple of times, and it reminds me of activities during USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) PRECOM. The first Aegis Cruiser was an unknown to the fleet at that time, and developing/showing what she could do was a thrill and a challenge. Listening to Flats describe the maintenance troops on the flight line reminded me so much of why the U.S. Armed Forces are successful in so many areas when we get out of their way, give them a clear mission, and stand back and watch the magic. Tico and Tomcats were the Cat's Meow back in the day.

I was there with you guys, could have sworn the strike eagles were from Seymore Johnson AFB. It was cool seeing the Australians. I had a flag flown, but it was lost with the tomcat that went down.

Congratulations on getting on audible!

Thanks!

Just a breathless story!

BZ Ward, another good one! Rock on…🇺🇸👍

Glad to hear the Navy and AF can work together and make it happen. Wow, what a story!

Adapt, improvise, and overcome: Name of the success game. BZ, Capt. Flatley. 🤙🏼

Love hearing about the tomcat stuff. Been my favorite ship as a kid. You should check out DCS on the PC Ward, they have the A and B, fully clickable cockpits, and a very well modeled cockpit with the ability to RIO with others online and possibly even offline in VR. Some live demos would be great, and they might even have your squadrons skin on it 😉 even if you just check it out sometime as a reaction, im sure a lot of viewers would enjoy the video. Take care

FASCINATING STUFF! It still amazes me finding out stuff like this. So many ops that went on "Behind the scenes" so to speak. Yet without them, failure was assured.

What I enjoy about your channel is the scope of the F-14 community. Lots of airshow spotters have a deep love for the F-14 and teenagers of the 80s (like me) put it somewhere next to Bullitt's Mustang for cool factor. I have no doubt it was a capable aircraft, but those who call for it to be bought back into service as if the aircraft itself holds some extraordinary powers fail to see it was community operating them that made the difference. FAC(A) the LANTIRN stories shows the drive, imagination and energy in that team. John Lennon once said "I'm a musician, give me a tuba and I'll get something from it!" I guess we could give the F-14 community Sopwith Camels and they would have got something out of them. I was infantry and know full well that a famous cap badge means nothing. A good command team can turn dross into a place of worship, a bad command team can turn first class famous regiment to dust. I always think of that when folk go on about which aircraft / tank / regiment is the best? You gotta ask 'who's operating it!' How do you husband the talent? In aviation how closely linked is your aircraft to your career?

One thing I really like about your videos is how you give credit to the maintainers and other crew mates. On the opposite end; one thing I don’t think most civilians understand is how much damage one “under-motivated” person with a bad attitude can potentially do to a ship/crew. Thoughts?

Love this podcast

What an awesome story, and it takes great leaders and great people to get it accomplished!

another great program.

Didn't expect to see a photo of myself in this one. We worked extensively with Task Force 20 up in Mosul. Our company shared the Mosul hotel with battalion headquarters & just down the hill right on the riverfront were TF20. Initially they just needed bodies to help guard their compound, so we helped out with that, then they realized they weren't getting any Ranger detachments that far north so we ended up on mission doing perimeter security for ops, and eventually it got to the point where we were in stack with them. Lotta great dudes, the absolute best of the best. Had a lot of fun working with those guys.

Simply the best. Thank you 🇺🇸⚓️

How much maintenance does a plane need to maintain that flying cycle? Seamus and his men were pushing the limits of possibilities. Awesome group of men. Universally, the people that Mooch interviews don't like to speak of what they did, but what their group did. Thanks for your time and service!

These videos are supercool!

Awesome...Thanks....Shoe