This would make for a great repaint!

[Navy Chief]

I found this on Facebook. Wanted to post it herehere, as it illustrates perfectly the "mottled" look on squadron aircraft!

Here is text from the post, and attached photo:

"A well touched-up F-14A+ 161430 assigned to the VF-103 Sluggers May 6, 1990, NAS Oceana. It was delivered as Grumman Ship Number 440 on September 3, 1982. Later converted to an F-14B(KB-22), it was downed by an SA-2 Guideline Missile while flying an OPERATION DESERT STORM TARPS sortie January 20, 1991. This F-14A+ accumulated 3008 flight hours, 815 catapult launches and 827 arrested landings including field arrestments before it was lost."

[Victory103]

Agree, great story on the rescue as well.