 F-14As from Fighter Squadron 1 (VF-1) and VF-2, operating from , flew combat air patrols over South Vietnam to provide fighter cover for the evacuation route.VF-142 became the first Atlantic Fleet F-14 squadron to intercept a Soviet Tu-95 "Bear" on 23 April 1976.One of the routine tasks U.S. Navy F-14s performed was intercepting aircraft that approached U.S. carrier groups too closely.