Planes of VF-84 (temporarily assigned to VF-41 for the 1973–74 cruise and operating with VF-41 markings) escorted US transport planes to within 150 miles of Israel during Operation Nickel Grass, the resupply of Israel.

In March 1993, VF-84 deployed again on Theodore Roosevelt, the only F-14 squadron in a reconfigured airwing that included Marine F/A-18, CH-53 and UH-1 squadrons. VF-84 flew critical TARPS reconnaissance missions during Operation Deny Flight, providing information about Bosnian Serb positions around Sarajevo.

Mar 19, 2025 · The history of VF-84 traces back to July 1, 1955, when it was established as VF-84 "Vagabonds" at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Initially equipped with the F2H Banshee fighter jet, the squadron underwent several aircraft transitions in the following years, including the F3H Demon, F8U Crusader, and F-4 Phantom II.

VF-84 traded their F-8Us for F-4Bs in 1964 and subsequently they had also flown the F-4J and F-4N variants of the venerable Phantom. The squadron began its transition to the F-14A in early 1976 and after the transition was complete, they embarked on their first major cruise with the new aircraft aboard USS Nitmitz (CVN-68) in December of 1977.

Most aviation enthusiasts think of VF-84 as the Jolly Rogers (see patch below), but the squadron designation and the name have not always been synonymous. It's the biggest example of the US Navy's confusion on the history of its squadrons.

After its commissioning in 1955, in an attempt ot trace the history of its squadron insignia, the story of Ensign Jack Ernie was revealed to VF-84 by Jack's family and upon their suggestion and consent, Jack's skull and femurs were encased in glass and presented to the squadron, thereby fulfilling Jack's last request of being remember to the ...

In 1980 VF-84 participated in the motion picture The Final Countdown which propelled the skull-and-crossbones-adorned F-14’s to international stardom. The movie featured a memorable scene involving two VF-84 Tomcats engaging two Japanese A6M Zeroes.

Fighting 84 or Jolly Rogers was one of the most famous F-14 units in the US Navy, this mostly because of their squadron markings: the skull and bones, and the appearance in the movie The Final Countdown.

Jul 15, 2018 · Lt. Paul Ratkovich, former VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-14 pilot. The following article titled The Last of the Jolly Rogers and written by LCdr. Bob Frantz appeared in September-October 1995 issue of Naval Aviation News. The disestablishment rumors started flying early in 1994, a few months after our return aboard [Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)].

VF-84, Fighter Squadron 84 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy active from 1955 to 1995. The squadron was nicknamed the Jolly Rogers and was based at NAS Oceana.