NATO Tiger Association

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.

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 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
A Super Étendard of the Flottille 11F of the French Navy during a 'Tiger Meet' in 2007

The 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) of the United States Air Forces in Europe took the initiative and on 19 July 1961, they invited No. 74 Squadron RAF and EC (Fighter Squadron) 1/12 Cambresis of the French Armée de l'air to RAF 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

edit

The following 24 squadrons are full members of the association.

Honorary members

edit

Probationary members

edit
  • none

Former members

edit

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

Tiger Meets

edit

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.

EventDatesLocationHostSilver TigerUnitsRef
NTM-196119–20 July Woodbridge 79 TFS3[1]
NTM-196222–25 August Woodbridge 79 TFS8[2]
NTM-196327–30 August Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel8[3]
NTM-19649–15 June Cambrai EC 1/128[4]
NTM-196514–18 August Bitburg 53 TFS8[5]
NTM-19665–9 July Leuchars 74 (F) Sqn8[6]
NTM-196729 May – 2 June Leck AG 527[7]
NTM-196816–20 August Lahr 439 TFS8[8]
NTM-19694–8 July Woodbridge 79 TFS8[9]
NTM-19706–11 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel8[10]
NTM-197114–21 June Upper Heyford Jagdbomberstaffel 4319[11]
NTM-197212–19 June Cambrai EC 1/129[12]
NTM-197316–22 June Cameri 21 Gruppo10[13]
NTM-197425 June – 1 July Bitburg 53 TFS9[14]
NTM-19753–9 August Leck AG 529[15]
NTM-197631 May – 4 June Baden-Soellingen 439 TFS9[16]
NTM-197722–28 June RAF Greenham Common 79 TFS 439 TFS11[17]
NTM-197819–26 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 31 Smaldeel13[18]
NTM-197918–25 June BA Cambrai EC 1/12 439 TFS13[19]
NTM-19809–16 June Cameri 21 Gruppo Esq 30114[20]
NTM-198112–15 June Bitburg 53 TFS 439 TFS8[21]
NTM-198226–30 August Gütersloh 230 Sqn Fliegerstaffel 1112[22]
NTM-198310–16 June Baden-Soellingen 439 TFS JaboSt 43112[23]
NTM-198413–20 August Leck AG 52 31 Smaldeel13[24]
NTM-19851–8 July Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel Esq 30113[25]
NTM-19868–16 June Cambrai EC 1/12 53 TFS18[26]
NTM-198723–30 June Montijo Esq 301 JaboSt 43118[27]
NTM-19885–12 July Cameri 21 Gruppo 74 (F) Sqn14[28]
NTM-199012–17 August Upper Heyford 79 TFS 79 TFS13[29]
NTM-199117–21 July Fairford International Air Tattoo 53 TFS16[30]
NTM-199214–22 May Albacete 142 Esc EC 1/1215[31]
NTM-19938–13 August Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 79 TFS10[32]
NTM-19943–10 May Cambrai EC 1/12 31 Smaldeel19[33]
NTM-199621–29 May Beja Esq 301 31 Smaldeel15[34]
NTM-199716–21 July Fairford International Air Tattoo 31 Smaldeel24[35]
NTM-199815–26 June Lechfeld JaboSt 321 21 Gruppo18[36]
NTM-200118–24 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel EC 1/1218[37]
NTM-200228 June – 9 July Beja Esq 301 221 LtBVr19[38]
NTM-20032–8 June Cambrai EC 1/12 31 Smaldeel13[39]
NTM-200430 August – 6 September Schleswig-Jagel TLG 51 JaboSt 32114[40]
NTM-20052–9 May Balikesir 192 Filo 230 Sqn11[41]
NTM-200625 September – 2 October Albacete 142 Esc EC 1/1213[42]
NTM-200723 September – 1 October Ørland 338 Skv 31 Smaldeel18[43]
NTM-200822 – 29 June Landivisiau Flottille 11F Fliegerstaffel 1119[44]
NTM-200914–25 September Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel EC 1/1218[45]
NTM-20104–15 October Volkel 313 Sqn. 211th Sqn18[46]
NTM-20119–20 May Cambrai EC 1/12 Esq 30119[47]
NTM-201229 May – 8 June Ørland 338 Skv 31 Smaldeel17[48]
NTM-201317–28 June Ørland 338 Skv TLG 5119[49]
NTM-201416–27 June Schleswig-Jagel TLG 51 Fliegerstaffel 1116[50]
NTM-20154–16 May Konya 192 Filo 21 Gruppo13[51]
NTM-201616–27 May Zaragoza Ala 15 31 Smaldeel22[52]
NTM-20175–16 June Landivisiau Flottille 11F 31 Smaldeel20[53]
NTM-201814–25 May Poznań 6 ELT 313 Sqn.22[54]
NTM-201913–24 May Mont-de-Marsan EC 3/30 Esq 30118[55]
NTM-20212–14 May Beja Esq 3017[56]
XTM-20217–14 September Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel[57]
NTM-20229–20 May Araxos 335 Mira EC 3/3010[58]
NTM-20232–13 October Gioia Del Colle 12° Gruppo TaktLwG 7418[59]

Bibliography

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

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tiger Units | NATO Tigers". natotigers.org. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Archer, Bob, New Tails for the Tigers, Air Forces Monthly, Issue 317, August 2014, p. 9
edit