NATO Tiger Association

A Super Étendard of the Flottille 11F of the French Navy during a 'Tiger Meet' in 2007
A Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter of 336 squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force during a 'Tiger Meet' in 2007. Tiger Meet aircraft are often painted in 'Tiger stripes'
A Nord 262E N°51 of the flotille 28F, French Navy, based at Nîmes, at a 'Tiger Meet' in 2008
A German Eurofighter Typhoon of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 at the 'Tiger Meet' in 2014
A Czech Mil Mi-24 "Alien Tiger" of the 221st Helicopter Squadron at the 'Tiger Meet' in 2016
Tail fin of a Swiss Air Force Fliegerstaffel 11 F/A-18C Hornet

The NATO Tiger Association or the Association of Tiger Squadrons was established in 1961. Promoted by French Defence minister Pierre Messmer, its role is to promote solidarity between NATO air forces. It is not, though, part of the formal NATO structure.

The USAFE (United States Air Force Europe) 79th TFS (Tactical Fighter Squadron) took the initiative and on 19 July 1961 they invited No. 74 Squadron RAF and EC (Fighter Squadron) 1/12 Provence of the French Armée de l'air to Woodbridge in England. France was then a full military member of NATO.

As of May 2016, the squadrons[1] included in the Association are 24 full members, 10 honorary members, and 7 disbanded members, all of which have a tiger as part of its squadron crest. As well as being opportunities for NATO air forces to share ideas and experiences, the ‘Tiger Meets’ are also public relations exercises for NATO. NATO aircraft are often brightly painted with tiger stripes.

Members

The following 24 squadrons are full members of the association.

Honorary members

Probationary members

Former members

The following squadrons were formerly members of the NATO Tiger Association until their disbanding by their respective organization.

Tiger Meets

The most publicly visible aspect of the NATO Tiger Association are the annual Tiger Meets, during which member squadrons gather for exercises, conferences, and public relations.

Event Dates Location Host Silver Tiger Units Ref
NTM-1961 July 19–20 United Kingdom Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 3
NTM-1962 August 22–25 United Kingdom Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 8
NTM-1963 August 27–30 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 8
NTM-1964 June 9–15 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 8
NTM-1965 August 14–18 Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS 8
NTM-1966 July 5–9 United Kingdom Leuchars United Kingdom 74 (F) Sqn 8
NTM-1967 May 29-June 2 Germany Leck Germany AG 52 7
NTM-1968 August 16–20 Germany Lahr Canada 439 TFS 8
NTM-1969 July 4–8 United Kingdom Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 8
NTM-1970 June 6–11 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 8
NTM-1971 June 14–21 United Kingdom Upper Heyford Germany Jagdbomberstaffel 431 9
NTM-1972 June 12–19 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 9
NTM-1973 June 16–22 Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo 10
NTM-1974 June 25-July 1 Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS 9
NTM-1975 August 3–9 Germany Leck Germany AG 52 9
NTM-1976 May 31-June 4 Germany Baden-Soellingen Canada 439 TFS 9
NTM-1977 June 22–28 United Kingdom RAF Greenham Common United States 79 TFS Canada 439 TFS 11
NTM-1978 June 19–26 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13
NTM-1979 June 18–25 France BA Cambrai France EC 1/12 Canada 439 TFS 13
NTM-1980 June 9–16 Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo Portugal Esq 301 14
NTM-1981 June 12–15 Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS Canada 439 TFS 8
NTM-1982 August 26–30 Germany Gütersloh United Kingdom 203 Sqn Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11 12
NTM-1983 June 10–16 Germany Baden-Soellingen Canada 439 TFS Germany JaboSt 431
NTM-1984 August 13–20 Germany Leck Germany AG 52 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13
NTM-1985 July 1–8 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel Portugal Esq 301 13
NTM-1986 June 8–16 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 United States 53 TFS 18
NTM-1987 June 23–30 Portugal Montijo Portugal Esq 301 Germany JaboSt 431 18
NTM-1988 July 5–12 Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo United Kingdom 74 (F) Sqn 14
NTM-1990 August 12–17 United Kingdom Upper Heyford United States 79 TFS United States 79 TFS 13
NTM-1991 July 17–21 United Kingdom Fairford United Kingdom International Air Tattoo United States 53 TFS 16
NTM-1992 May 14–22 Spain Albacete Spain 142 Esc France EC 1/12 15
NTM-1993 August 8–13 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel United States 79 TFS 10
NTM-1994 May 3–10 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 19
NTM-1996 May 21–29 Portugal Beja Portugal Esq 301 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 15
NTM-1997 July 16–21 United Kingdom Fairford United Kingdom International Air Tattoo Belgium 31 Smaldeel 24
NTM-1998 June 15–26 Germany Lecheld Germany JaboSt 321 Italy 21 Gruppo 18
NTM-2001 June 18–24 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel France EC 1/12 18
NTM-2002 June 28-July 9 Portugal Beja Portugal Esq 301 Czech Republic 221 LtBVr
NTM-2003 June 2–8 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13
NTM-2004 August 30-September 6 Germany Schleswig-Jagel Germany TLG 51 Germany JaboSt 321
NTM-2005 May 2–9 Turkey Balikesir Turkey 192 Filo United Kingdom 230 Sqn 11
NTM-2006 September 25-October 2 Spain Albacete Spain 142 Esc France EC 1/12 13
NTM-2007 September 23-October 1 Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Belgium 31 Smaldeel 18
NTM-2008 June 22-June 29 France Landivisiau France Flottille 11F Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11 19
NTM-2009 September 14–25 Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel France EC 1/12 18
NTM-2010 October 4–15 Netherlands Volkel Netherlands 313 Sqn. Czech Republic 211th Sqn 18
NTM-2011 May 9–20 France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Portugal Esq 301 19
NTM-2012 May 29-June 8 Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Belgium 31 Smaldeel 17
NTM-2013 June 17–28 Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Belgium TLG 51
NTM-2014 June 16–27 Germany Schleswig-Jagel Germany TLG 51 Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11
NTM-2015 May 4–16 Turkey Konya Turkey 192 Filo Italy 21 Gruppo
NTM-2016 May 16–27 Spain Zaragoza Spain Ala 15 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 19

Bibliography

  • Heuvel, Coen van den & Tuyn, Jac van. Tiger Meet, the 25th Anniversary 'NATO' Tiger Meet, Osprey, 1986, 978-0-8504-5703-2.

References

  1. http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-units retrieved 18 May 2016
  2. 1 2 3 Archer, Bob, New Tails for the Tigers, Air Forces Monthly, Issue 317, August 2014, p.9
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