F-4N 152244, VF-201's CAG bird, showing spectacular markings on the Hunter's flightline in 1978.
VF-201 F-4S 155732, seen landing on NAS Dallas RW17 in 1986. The dull grey of TPS (Tactical Paint Scheme) was effective during air to air combat, but certainly wasn't as pretty to look at as the F-4N above!
Superheats' F-4N 153056 showing the Navy's colorful paint style of the '70s. NAS Dallas ramp in 1978.
VF-202 F-4S 153779 about to touchdown on RW17, NAS Dallas 1986. Note freshly applied TPS with off-white trim. TPS was so drab those days that we photographers got very excited at this little bit of white appearing on the jets!
Cowboys' F-4J 153841 landing after a local mission at Dallas in 1984. 
VMFA-112's F-4S 155524 pulling up on departure from RW35 in early 1991. -112 was on its way to NAS Key West for its last remote Det. while flying the Phantom. By December of 1991, this jet would be retired to the Tucson desert.
457TFS, 301TFW F-4D 68-8734 sitting on their ramp during 1987. This particular Phantom shot down a NVAF MiG-21 on May 10, 1972. -734 was transferred tot he South Korean Air Force after its 457th service was over.
F-4E 68-0497 at the north arming area at Carswell AFB in 1990. This jet is carrying a Pave Spike laser designator pod, along with 2 Maverick training rounds. -497 was transferred to the Turkish Air Force in 1991.
704TFS F-4D 66-7762 departing the arming area for the runway, launching for a local traiing flight out of Bergstrom AFB in 1988. This jet ended up being transferred to the South Korean Air Force.
Wearing the unit's unique 'cloud' pattern camoflage, F-4E 74-1040 seen at the departure end of Bergstrom's runway in 1990. This jet was serving at the unit's commander's 'flagship', with "924TFG" highlighted on the tail. 74-1040 retired to the Tucson boneyard in 1991, and was resurrected to serve as a QF-4 target drone.
RF-4C 68-0548, serving as the 67TRW Commander's flagship, seen here at last chance prior to a 1990 mission out of Bergstrom. 
RF-4C 68-0555 taxiing out of the ramp to the runway for an August 1992 local mission. 2 weeks later, the squadron would disband, marking an end to active duty USAF RF-4 operations. The 12th's fin cap color was orange. Jets that deployed for Desert Storm had the squadron nickmname 'Blackbirds' written in script on the fin cap. After Desert Storm, the 'Tactical' was dropped from squadron designations, so the 12th became the 12th Recon Squadron, hence the '12RS' commander's markings ont he tail. 68-0555 was eventually converted to a QRF-4C drone, and was shot down on April 1, 1997.
RF-4C 67-0435, 45TRTS (Tactical Recon Training Squadron), one of two RF-4 training units at Bergstrom. the 45th's colors were a blue fin cap with white polka dots. The 45th was inactivated in 1989 as the need for RF-4 training drew down.
63-7757, a very old RF-4 indeed, leads a gaggle of its 62TRTS squadron mates at Bergstrom in 1985. Shortly after this, grey camoflage started to appear. The 62nd TRTS' colors were a gold fin cap. The 62nd deactivated at the end of 1989, transferring all RF-4 training to the Idaho ANG.
RF-4C 66-0427 being checked over at last chance prior to an August 1990 mission out of Bergstrom. The 91TRS squadron colors were a red fin cap with white polka dots. The 91st stood down at the end of August 1991.
Proudly wearing the inscription 'Texans' on the fuselage, 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F-4C 64-0865 taxiing back to its ramp at the conclusion of a 1985 practice sortie. Note the puddles on the taxiway - leftovers from one of the common afternoon Houston heat/humidty showers. The 111th converted from the F-101 Voodoo to the F-4C in 1981, and then to the F-4D in 1987. This beautifully marked Phantom was retired to the desert, and finally scrapped in 1996.
F-4D 66-0280, 111FIS, 147FIG, at Ellington in 1988. This aircraft scored a MiG kill during the Vietnam war, the kill star is on the intake.
F-4C 63-7431, 182TFS, 149TFG, taxiing out for a local training mission in 1985.
F-14B 163227 was VF-11's CAG bird during the squadron's last days as a Tomcat squadron, seen here at the Alliance Airport TX airshow in October of 2004. Renamed, VFA-11 is now flying Super Hornets out of Oceana. 163227 survived its service, and retired to AMARC under the inventory number 1K0188.
The Top Hatters of VF-14 owned this jet, 159023, when it was seen on a cross country flight in 1986. The scuzzy grey paint scheme was typical of how typical fleet Tomcats looked - not very pretty to look at, but effective in helping disguise the aircraft in an air combat environment. This particular aircraft finished its flying days with the NATC at Pax River, and was stricken from the inventory on April 2, 1992.
VF-31's 161862, seen here at an airshow at Carswell AFB in 1990. This throwback paint scheme honored the markings carried by the squadron when it first got F-14s. The red tails, black noses, and Felix the Cat running with a bomb were spectacular. VF-31 was the last US Navy squadron to operate the Tomcat, relenquishing their D models in 2006. This aircraft was converted to B model standards, survived its service, and was retired to AMARC as 1K0182.
VF-32 was known as the Swordsmen. F-14A BuNo 162694, the squadron's CAG bird, is seen here at Dallas in 1988 on approach to RW17. It was later modified into a F-14B. It was written off on October 3, 2002, while serving with VF-101. VF-32 has become VFA-32, and now flies the F-18F Super Hornet at Oceana.
VF-33 was known as both the Tarsiers and the Starfighters, depending upon who and when you asked. BuNo 159427, an early production A model, is seen here at Oceana during 1986. The aircraft survived its service to become the 43rd Tomcat retired to AMARC, delivered there in 1991. It was scrapped in 1994.
VF-41 Black Aces F-14A 160381 taking off from RW35 one morning at NAS Dallas in 1987. 160381 crashed on August 26, 1994, while flying with VF-84. It suffered an inflight engine fire and went down off of the NC coast - both crew members were safely recovered. 
The VF-74 Bedevilers flew both the A and B models of the F-14. F-14B 162922 is seen during a Dallas refueling stop during 1989. VF-74 was disestablished on April 30, 1994. 162922 finished its flying days with VF-32, and was retired to AMARC as 1K0164.
My favorite Tomcat squadron markings of all time - the VF-84 Jolly Rogers. Nothing quite epitomized the Tomcat like the Skull and Crossbones on a black tail - pirate stuff to be sure. BuNo 162702 is seen here on the NAS Dallas transient ramp during a November 4, 1989 stopover. The jet crashed shortly after this photo was taken, on June 5, 1990. VF-84 was disestablished on October 1, 1995. VF-103 took the lineage of the Skull and Crossbones (see below), but it just wasn't the same!
F-14D 164342 of VF-101, seen at an airshow at Alliance Airport, TX during October of 2004. This was one of the Tomcat's last airshow appearances. The aircraft carried sharp tail markings and a mean looking sharkmouth as it approached retirement. When VF-101 shut its doors, the jet transferred to VF-31, and was part of that squadron until the very end of US Navy Tomcat operations. It is now preserved at the Wings over Miami museum. VF-101 was the Atlantic coast training squadron, keeping a roster of up to 40 F-14s on the Oceana ramp to support training requirements.
VF-102's CAG bird landing on RW 17 at NAS Dallas. This Diamondbacks' jet was transiting through the base between cruises in 1987. BuNo 162695 was a combat veteran of the First Gulf War, and survived its service to retire to AMARC as 1K0171. VF-102 became VFA-102, and now flies the F-18F Super Hornet.
VF-103's 160390 seen landing on RW 17 at NAS Dallas in 1988. -103 had a confusing career in the F-14. First known as the Sluggers, it went through three different types of tail markings (the first of which, an arrow, is illustrated here). When VF-84 was disestablished, VF-103 then took the Jolly Rogers name and heritage, and started using the VF-84 tail markings. The Navy's explanation was that they wanted to keep the long lineage of the Jolly Rogers going - but that didn't make a lot of sense. If the lineage was that important, why didn't they get rid of -103 and keep -84? I don't know ... 160390 was one of the most famous/infamous Tomcats. While flying with VF-41, it downed a Libyan SU-22 on August 19, 1981. Later, while with VF-213, it crashed while approaching the USS Lincoln on October 25, 1994. The crash claimed the life of Lt. Kara Hultgreen, one of the first two female Naval Aviators assigned to a fleet squadron.
VF-142 Ghost Riders flew the F-14A until they were disestablished on April 30, 1995. -142 was always paired with -143 during carrier deployments. BuNo 161427 is seen here on the Oceana ramp during 1986. This aircraft was lost on July 30, 1998, while flying with VF-103.
VF-143 is known as the Pukin Dogs, a backhanded compliment for the squadron's insignia, which is supposed to be a griffon - but actually looks like a dog throwing up. The Dogs were one of the last F-14 squadrons in service receiving F-18E Super Hornets after retiring their Tomcats to AMARC. AG-114, BuNo 162924, was a B model assigned to the squadron when this photo was taken of it arriving transient at Carswell AFB in 2001. The squadron had just come back from a deployment aboard the USS JFK. This aircraft was struck from the inventory on Sep. 15, 2004.
All Photos by yours truly.
The Wolfpack of VF-1 was established in 1972 as one of the first two F-14 fleet squadrons. They sailed on the USS Enterprise, and actually were in SEA at the conclusion of the Vietnam War, though they did not fly combat missions. 162597 is seen carrying throwback CAG markings at Miramar in 1988, duplicating the markings all of its jets carried when the squadron first stood up. VF-1 was an early victim of Clinton's massive military drawdown after the First Gulf War, standing down on October 1, 1993. 162597 was struck from the inventory on Feb. 18, 1999 after finishing its service life with VF-14.
VF-2 was the Wolfpack's sister squadron during the early days of the Tomcat, participating on that first cruise. Also carrying throwback markings, 162596 on Miramar's ramp in 1988. Now known as VFA-2, ths unit currently flies the F-18F Super Hornet. This aircraft crashed on Sep. 22, 1988, less than 6 months after this photo was taken.
Many of VF-21's F-14As carried this attractive yellow and black scheme when they were delivered from the Grumman factory. The glossy grey paint was applied by Grumman to all F-14As when delivered as new, as stated by contract. Low-vis tactical grey paint was applied to all F-14B and D aircraft delivered. 161615, NK-205, seen here at Miramar in 1988, between cruises on the USS Constellation. The Freelancers were disestablished on January 31, 1996.
This VF-24 F-14B was caught transiting through NAS Dallas in 1989. BuNo 163224, normally based at Miramar, coded NG-203. The Fighting Renegades were disestablished on August 31, 1996, one of the last victims of the Clinton cuts. This aircraft survived to be retired to AMARC as 1K0148.
The Screaming Eagles of VF-51 carried this attractively painted CAG bird in 1991. NL-100 was BuNo 162602. VF-51 was disetablished along with its stablemate VF-111 on March 31, 1995. 162602 crashed while flying with VF-51 on July 11, 1994. 
VF-111's Sundowners teamed with VF-51 on carrier cruises. The sharkmouth and sunburst on the tail were some of the most striking markings carried by any Tomcat. The CAG bird, 162594, heads a line of normal grey squadron aircraft on the Miramar ramp in 1991. VF-111 stood down on March 31, 1995. Recently, VFC-111 was established at NAS Key West, flying F-5s in an aggressor role. This aircraft crashed while flying with VF-101 out of Oceana on Oct. 3, 2002.
The Aardvarks of VF-114 flew off the Enterprise for most of their time in the Tomcat. 161615, NH-107, seen in the afternoon sun at Miramar in 1991. The 'Varks were one of the first squadrons lost during the Clinton cutbacks, being disestablished at Miramar on April 30, 1993. 161615 is preserved at the Combat Air Museum, Forbes Field, KS.
VF-124 was the West Coast F-14 training squadron, tasked with readying pilots and RIOs to operate the F-14 for Pacific Fleet Squadrons. Based at Miramar, the squadron was not assigned to an Air Wing. Gunfighter 400, BuNo 161620, seen here at Miramar in 1991, carried special markings as the CAG bird. The unit's other aircraft weren't nearly as colorful! VF-124 was disestablished on September 30, 1994 - at that point all F-14 training was transferred to VF-101 at Oceana. 161620 survived its service, and is preserved at the air museum at Selfridge ANGB near Detroit.
VF-154's Black Knight 102, BuNo 161614, seen at its home base of Miramar in 1988. -154 later forward deployed to NAF Atsugi (Japan), becoming the only Tomcat squadron based on foreign soil. VFA-154 survived the drawdowns and now flies the F-18F.
VF-191 was one of the shortest lived F-14 squadrons, being established in 1987 to join the new Air Group CVW-10. CVW-10 was scrapped before it ever deployed to a carrier, due to budget cuts. 161279, NM-102, see here on a approach to NAS Dallas in February of 1988. The squadron stood down on April 30, 1988. This aircraft was last used by VF-101 at Oceana, and struck from the inventory on Dec. 12, 2003.
VF-194 was -191's stablemate in CVW-10. Satan's Kittens' CAG bird is seen on the MIramar ramp in March of 1988, shortly before the squadron stood down on April 30, 1988. This aircraft, BuNo 161626, survived its service and retired to AMARC as 1K0160.
F-14B 163229, VF-211's NG-100. Normally based at Miramar, seen here on the NAS Dallas TLine in 1989. When Miramar moved to Marine hands, VF-211 moved to NAS Oceana along with the rest of the Pacific F-14s. Upon retirement of its F-14s, -211 stood down for a time, then was reborn with F-18Fs. The unit currently flies off the USS Enterprise. 163229 was retired to AMARC with the inventory number 1K0172.
VF-213's 160920, NH-213, seen transiting through NAS Dallas in 1985. VF-213 moved to NAS Oceana when Miramar reverted to Marine hands. The Black Lions were one of the last squadrons to fly the F-14, giving up their F-14Ds for F-18Fs. This specific aircraft was retired by 1999, and transferred to a 'museum' at Chino CA, where it became embroiled in a controversy regarding Tomcat parts being delivered to Iran.
All Photos by yours truly.
