1-200 VF-31, "Tomcatters" USS Abraham Lincoln

1-200 VF-31 "Tomcatters" USS Abraham Lincoln — F-14D Tomcat Decals

Recreate the iconic VF-31 "Tomcatters" F-14D Super Tomcats operating from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) with historically accurate 1-200 scale aircraft decals. Serving with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), VF-31 carried the NK tail code and its famous Felix the Cat insignia during major operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Squadron History — USS Abraham Lincoln (1998–2003)

One of the U.S. Navy’s oldest fighter squadrons, VF-31 has a distinguished history spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Tomcatters began flying the F-14A in the early 1980s and transitioned to the improved F-14D in 1992. As part of CVW-14, the squadron operated the F-14D from USS Carl Vinson before moving to USS Abraham Lincoln.

During its June–December 1998 deployment aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, VF-31 supported Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Its F-14Ds provided fleet air defense as well as precision-strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

VF-31 returned to USS Abraham Lincoln for the August 2000–February 2001 deployment, again supporting Southern Watch and maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. The carrier and air wing spent more than 100 days on station in the region.

The Tomcatters departed aboard Lincoln on July 20, 2002, for a deployment that extended into May 2003. The squadron flew in support of Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. As tensions escalated, the battle group’s deployment was extended for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the opening stages of the Iraq War in March 2003, VF-31 F-14Ds flew strike and support missions from USS Abraham Lincoln. The squadron returned in May 2003 after one of the longest U.S. carrier deployments of that period. These cruises demonstrated the F-14D's evolution from fleet interceptor to multirole precision-strike aircraft.

Decal Markings & Sheet Contents

These decals are specifically designed and sized to fit our 1-200 scale F-14 3D-printed aircraft miniatures, reproducing VF-31 Tomcatters markings from the USS Abraham Lincoln era.

• Markings for 4 complete aircraft (airframes) per sheet.

• 2 high-visibility aircraft marking sets representing CAG and Commanding Officer (CO) aircraft.

• 2 subdued line-aircraft marking sets.

• Historically accurate Modex numbers and Bureau Numbers (BuNo) representing VF-31 F-14D aircraft.

• Specifically sized for our 1-200 scale F-14 3D-printed miniatures.

Key Historical Details

• Squadron: VF-31 "Tomcatters"

• Aircraft: Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat

• Carrier: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

• Carrier Air Wing: CVW-14

• Tail Code: NK

• Period: 1998–2003 (Abraham Lincoln deployments)

• Major Operations: Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom

• Theaters: Western Pacific, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan

Model Compatibility & Application

These 1-200 scale waterslide decals are specifically sized for our F-14 3D-printed aircraft miniatures and are suitable for naval aviation displays, historical aircraft modeling, and tabletop air-combat wargaming.

For best results, apply decals over a smooth gloss-coated surface before sealing with a suitable clear finish.

Decal Application and Gloss Coat Tips: https://www.flightdeckdecals2400.com/gloss-coat-decals-tips