massive ensuing fire. VF-74 lost 42 enlisted personnel and three F-4s. Many squadron members were commended for their heroic actions whilst fighting the fires. In early 1972 they transitioned from the F-4B to the F-4J. Between July 1972 to February 1973 the squadron returned to combat in Vietnam on board . During seven periods on the famous Yankee Station VF-74 did not lose a single aircraft to enemy action. VF-74 was just as successful in peace time, winning the CNO Safety "S" in 1974 along with the Battle "E". In 1975, they moved to CVW-8 and took part in the maiden cruise of . In 1976 they won the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award, making them the top US Navy fighter squadron. In 1982 they transitioned from the F-4J to the F-4S and made their final cruise with the F-4 Phantom from May{date} to 16 November 1982. In February 1983 they began the transition to the F-14 Tomcat and in October the same year the squadron reported back to CVW-17 and their first cruise was in April 1984 on board which ended in October the same year. In 1985 VF-74 and VF-103 became famous in the fight against terrorism. On 7 October, members of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) hijacked the Italian cruise liner . When the ship arrived in Syria the hijackers made their way to Egypt where they were promised free passage to Tunisia in return for the hostages' lives. The terrorists boarded an Egypt Air Boeing 737 on the night of 10 October. But based on US Intelligence, president Ronald Reagan ordered the Sixth Fleet to take action, to force down the 737 to Sigonella where US Special Forces could capture the hijackers. Four F-14s and an E-2C Hawkeye launched from Saratoga. The plan called for Saratogas planes to make night intercepts and identifications of air contacts on the airways crisscrossing the central Mediterranean as they flew eastward toward a common airway intersection south of Crete. After four interceptions, following two hair-raising, lights out intercepts of planes, the F-14s found the right aircraft. At about 2230, southeast of Crete they closed in on the 737 which showed the tail number 2843 which identified the aircraft as the one they were looking for. After identifying themselves to the airliner's pilot, the American planes eventually were able to convince the 737 to land at the NATO base in Sigonella, Sicily.