Editing VFA-102 (section)

===1980s ===

[[File:VF-102 F-14 overflies Balzam class.jpg|thumb|left|VF-102 TARPS F-14A Tomcat tracks a Soviet [[Balzam-class intelligence ship|Balzam SIGINT ship]] attempting to shadow NATO maneuvers in 1985]]
In June 1981 the squadron flew their last Phantom during an [[Indian Ocean]] cruise aboard {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}}.  During the summer of 1981, the squadron transitioned to the [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcat]]. With the new aircraft, the squadron also received a new mission in addition to their traditional fighter role—photo reconnaissance using the [[TARPS]] pod. The squadron deployed aboard {{USS|America|CV-66|6}} in late 1982 to participate in the [[NATO]] Exercise Northern Wedding that required high temperature operations in the heavy seas north of the British Isles, garnering considerable attention from Soviet [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tu-95D]] Bear reconnaissance aircraft. The first Tomcat deployment with [[Carrier Air Wing One]] began in 1983 and took USS ''America'' through the [[Suez Canal]] to the Indian Ocean. Two VF-102 Tomcats, flying a routine [[TARPS]] mission over [[Somalia]] were fired upon by an [[SA-2]] [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site and [[Anti-aircraft artillery|AAA]] in April 1983.  Both aircraft returned without damage.

VF-102 deployed in 1984 with the first [[KA-93 LOROP]] camera and [[AN/ARC-182|ARC-182]] [[Have Quick]] radios, conducting [[OPEVAL|Operational Evaluation]] for both systems at sea. In 1985, USS ''America'' participated in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari and again conducted operations in the challenging seas and low visibility conditions near the [[Arctic Circle]] and inside Vestfjord, Norway. While operating northwest of Ireland, a VF-102 TARPS aircrew flew an unprecedented 1200&nbsp;nm TARPS mission to locate a Soviet [[Kynda Class]] Cruiser transiting the English Channel. In March 1986, the squadron deployed on board USS ''America'', headed for the [[Gulf of Sidra]] joining {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6}} and {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} to challenge the Libyan proclaimed [[Line of Death]]. A VF-102 Tomcat was first to be fired on by a Libyan [[SA-5 Gammon|SA-5]] and [[Anti-Aircraft Artillery|AAA]] while flying Combat Air Patrol for [[Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)|Operation Attain Document]]. A month later VF-102 flew cover for US Navy and US Air Force bombers in [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]].