In late March 1986, VF-33 was aboard USS America (CV-66) when she crossed Gaddafi's "Line of Death" into the Gulf of Sidra. Libyan SA-5 surface-to-air missiles were unsuccessfully fired at Tomcats from the Starfighters' sister squadron (VF-102) beginning a battle designated as Operation Prairie Fire by the US military. A pair of VF-33's F-14s engaged in a dogfight with Libyan MiG-25 "Foxbats" and outmaneuvered them, and while they had met rules of engagement and acquired Sidewinder tone, they failed to receive authorization to fire in time and the MiGs slipped away. By the end of the battle, Libya had lost a corvette, a fast attack craft, and multiple SAM sites along with a second corvette and missile boat being heavily damaged. No damage or casualties were reported by the US Navy. This F-14, a Block 75 designated TARBOX 210, was flown during the engagement
