We got in position for a 2 v 3 scenario, three VFC-12 Hornets versus two VF-41 F-14’s. We flew the sortie objectives twice and set-up for the third and final element of this sortie. The Prowler was providing masking for the strike package which consisted of F-14’s carrying thousand-pound AIM-54’s. The area of operation was over the range approximately fifty miles southeast of NAS Oceana. VFC-12’s mission that day was to simulate MiG-29’s intent on striking against F-14’s protecting EA-6B Prowlers. It started out to be a beautiful spring day at the office- the Virginia skies were clear and it looked like it was going to be a great day for some flying and fighting. “VFC-12 was conducting elements of its Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program (SFARP) with F-14 squadron VF-41. This story appears in Chuck Lloyd and Rick Llinares book Adversary: America’s Aggressor Fighter Squadrons. Flying VFC-12’s F/A-18 Hornets that day were Stubbs himself (Flight Lead) and his wingmen, LCDR Greg “G.I.” Anderson and LCDR Cal Worthington. 22, 1996 during his participation in Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program. LCDR Greg “Stubby” Stubbs describes the mid-air collision that took place on Apr.

The squadron and Navy completed the investigations and we were returned to flight status in about two months,” LCDR Greg “Stubby” Stubbs, former VFC-12 adversary pilot “It was a significant testament to the construction of the F/A-18-that we were able to fly both aircraft after the damage they sustained.

Air combat maneuvers rolling