NATO Tiger Association

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 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. However, it is not part of the formal NATO structure.

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 their squadron crests. 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

  • none

Former members

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
1961 19–20 July United Kingdom RAF Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 3 [3]
1962 22–25 August United Kingdom RAF Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 8 [4]]
1963 27–30 August Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 8 [5]
1964 9–15 June France Cambrai France EC 1/12 8 [6]
1965 14–18 August Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS 8 [7]
1966 5–9 July United Kingdom RAF Leuchars United Kingdom 74 (F) Sqn 8 [8]
1967 29 May – 2 June Germany Leck Air Base Germany AG 52 7 [9]
1968 16–20 August Germany CAFB Lahr Canada 439 TFS 8 [10]
1969 4–8 July United Kingdom RAF Woodbridge United States 79 TFS 8 [11]
1970 6–11 June Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 8 [12]
1971 14–21 June United Kingdom RAF Upper Heyford Germany Jagdbomberstaffel 431 9 [13]
1972 12–19 June France Cambrai France EC 1/12 9 [14]
1973 16–22 June Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo 10 [15]
1974 25 June – 1 July Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS 9 [16]
1975 3–9 August Germany Leck Germany AG 52 9 [17]
1976 31 May – 4 June Germany Baden-Soellingen Canada 439 TFS 9 [18]
1977 22–28 June United Kingdom RAF Greenham Common United States 79 TFS Canada 439 TFS 11 [19]
1978 19–26 June Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13 [20]
1979 18–25 June France BA Cambrai France EC 1/12 Canada 439 TFS 13 [21]
1980 9–16 June Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo Portugal Esq 301 14 [22]
1981 12–15 June Germany Bitburg United States 53 TFS Canada 439 TFS 8 [23]
1982 26–30 August Germany Gütersloh United Kingdom 230 Sqn Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11 12 [24]
1983 10–16 June Germany Baden-Soellingen Canada 439 TFS Germany JaboSt 431 12 [25]
1984 13–20 August Germany Leck Germany AG 52 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13 [26]
1985 1–8 July Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel Portugal Esq 301 13 [27]
1986 8–16 June France Cambrai France EC 1/12 United States 53 TFS 18 [28]
1987 23–30 June Portugal Montijo Portugal Esq 301 Germany Jagdbomberstaffel 431 18 [29]
1988 5–12 July Italy Cameri Italy 21 Gruppo United Kingdom 74 (F) Sqn 14 [30]
1990 12–17 August United Kingdom RAF Upper Heyford United States 79 TFS United States 79 TFS 13 [31]
1991 17–21 July United Kingdom RAF Fairford RIAT United States 53 TFS 16 [32]
1992 14–22 May Spain Albacete Spain 142 Esc France EC 1/12 15 [33]
1993 8–13 August Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel United States 79 TFS 10 [34]
1994 3–10 May France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 19 [35]
1996 21–29 May Portugal Beja Portugal Esq 301 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 15 [36]
1997 16–21 July United Kingdom RAF Fairford RIAT Belgium 31 Smaldeel 24 [37]
1998 15–26 June Germany Lechfeld Germany JaboSt 321 Italy 21 Gruppo 18 [38]
2001 18–24 June Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel France EC 1/12 18 [39]
2002 28 June – 9 July Portugal Beja Portugal Esq 301 Czech Republic 221 LtBVr 19 [40]
2003 2–8 June France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 13 [41]
2004 30 August – 6 September Germany Schleswig-Jagel Germany TLG 51 Germany JaboSt 321 14 [42]
2005 2–9 May Turkey Balikesir Turkey 192 Filo United Kingdom 230 Sqn 11 [43]
2006 25 September – 2 October Spain Albacete Spain 142 Esc France EC 1/12 13 [44]
2007 23 September – 1 October Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Belgium 31 Smaldeel 18 [45]
2008 22 – 29 June France Landivisiau France Flottille 11F Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11 19 [46]
2009 14–25 September Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel France EC 1/12 18 [47]
2010 4–15 October Netherlands Volkel Netherlands 313 Sqn. Czech Republic 211th Sqn 18 [48]
2011 9–20 May France Cambrai France EC 1/12 Portugal Esq 301 19 [49]
2012 29 May – 8 June Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Belgium 31 Smaldeel 17 [50]
2013 17–28 June Norway Ørland Norway 338 Skv Germany TLG 51 19 [51]
2014 16–27 June Germany Schleswig-Jagel Germany TLG 51 Switzerland Fliegerstaffel 11 16 [52]
2015 4–16 May Turkey Konya Turkey 192 Filo Italy 21 Gruppo 13 [53]
2016 16–27 May Spain Zaragoza Spain Ala 15 Belgium 31 Smaldeel 22 [54]
2017 5–16 June France Landivisiau France Flottille 11F Belgium 31 Smaldeel 20 [55]
2018 14–25 May Poland Poznań Poland 6 ELT Netherlands 313 Sqn. 22 [56]
2019 13–24 May France Mont-de-Marsan France EC 3/30 Portugal Esq 301 18 [57]
2021 2–14 May Portugal Beja Portugal Esq 301 7 [58]
"XT-Roar-dinary Tiger Event" 2021 7–14 September Belgium Kleine Brogel Belgium 31 Smaldeel [59]
2021 9–20 May Greece Araxos Greece 335 Mira France EC 3/30 10 [60]
2023 2–13 October Italy Gioia Del Colle Italy 12° Gruppo Germany TaktLwG 74 18 [61]

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. ^ "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
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  5. ^ "1963 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  7. ^ "1965 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  8. ^ "1966 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  11. ^ "1969 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  12. ^ "1970 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  13. ^ "1971 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  14. ^ "1972 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  16. ^ "1974 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  17. ^ "1975 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  18. ^ "1976 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  19. ^ "1977 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  20. ^ "1978 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  21. ^ "1979 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  22. ^ "1980 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  23. ^ "1981 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  31. ^ "1990 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  33. ^ "1992 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  34. ^ "1993 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  35. ^ "1994 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  36. ^ "1996 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  37. ^ "1997 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  48. ^ "2010 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  49. ^ "2011 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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  51. ^ "2013 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  52. ^ "2014 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  53. ^ "2015 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  54. ^ "2016 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  55. ^ "2017 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  56. ^ "2018 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  57. ^ "2019 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  58. ^ "2021 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  59. ^ "2021 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  60. ^ "2022 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
  61. ^ http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2023