NATO Tiger Association

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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. 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 Cambresis 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.

• Austrian Air Force
  • 1 Jet Training Squadron
• Belgian Air Force
  • 31 Smaldeel
• Czech Air Force
  • 211. taktická letka (211th Tactical Squadron)
  • 221. vrtulníková letka (221st Helicopter Squadron)
• French Air Force
  • Escadron de Chasse et d'Expérimentation 05/330
  • Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine
• French Navy
  • Flottille 11F
• German Air Force
  • Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann"
  • Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 "Bavarian Tigers"
• Hellenic Air Force
  • 335 Squadron "Tigers"
• Hungarian Air Force
  • 59/1 Squadron^[2]
• Italian Air Force
  • XII Gruppo
  • 21 Gruppo (387th and 388th Flights)
•  NATO (NATO Airborne Early Warning Force)
  • Squadron 1
• Royal Netherlands Air Force
  • 313 Squadron
• Royal Norwegian Air Force
  • 338 Skvadron
• Polish Air Force
  • 6 Squadron^[2]
• Portuguese Air Force
  • Esquadra 301 "Jaguares"
• Swiss Air Force
  • Fliegerstaffel 11
• Spanish Air Force
  • 142 Escuadrón
  • Ala 15
• Turkish Air Force
  • 192 Filo
• Royal Air Force
  • 230 Squadron
• Royal Navy
  • 814 Naval Air Squadron

Honorary members[]

• Royal Canadian Air Force
  • 439 CSS
• Indian Air Force
  • 1 Squadron
• Slovak Air Force
  • 1 Lt (Bojova letka)
• United States Air Force
  • 37th Bomb Squadron
• United States Air Force
  • 79th Fighter Squadron
• United States Air Force
  • 120th Fighter Squadron
• United States Air Force
  • 391st Fighter Squadron
• United States Air Force
  • 393rd Bomb Squadron
• United States Air Force Reserve
  • 141st Air Refueling Squadron
• United States Navy
  • VP-8

Probationary members[]

• none

Former members[]

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

• German Air Force
  • Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (disbanded March 2013)^[2]
  • Jagdbomberstaffel 431
• French Air Force
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/12
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/7 "Provence"
• Royal Norwegian Air Force
  • 336 Squadron
• Royal Air Force
  • 74 (F) Squadron
• United States Air Force
  • 53rd Fighter Squadron

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
	19–20 July	Woodbridge	79 TFS		3	[1]
	22–25 August	Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[2]
	27–30 August	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[3]
	9–15 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		8	[4]
	14–18 August	Bitburg	53 TFS		8	[5]
	5–9 July	Leuchars	74 (F) Sqn		8	[6]
	29 May – 2 June	Leck			7	[7]
	16–20 August	Lahr	439 TFS		8	[8]
	4–8 July	Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[9]
	6–11 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[10]
	14–21 June	Upper Heyford			9	[11]
	12–19 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		9	[12]
	16–22 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo		10	[13]
	25 June – 1 July	Bitburg	53 TFS		9	[14]
	3–9 August	Leck			9	[15]
	31 May – 4 June	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS		9	[16]
	22–28 June	RAF Greenham Common	79 TFS	439 TFS	11	[17]
	19–26 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	31 Smaldeel	13	[18]
	18–25 June	BA Cambrai	EC 1/12	439 TFS	13	[19]
	9–16 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo	Esq 301	14	[20]
	12–15 June	Bitburg	53 TFS	439 TFS	8	[21]
	26–30 August	Gütersloh	203 Sqn	Fliegerstaffel 11	12	[22]
	10–16 June	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS		12	[23]
	13–20 August	Leck		31 Smaldeel	13	[24]
	1–8 July	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	Esq 301	13	[25]
	8–16 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12	53 TFS	18	[26]
	23–30 June	Montijo	Esq 301		18	[27]
	5–12 July	Cameri	21 Gruppo	74 (F) Sqn	14	[28]
	12–17 August	Upper Heyford	79 TFS	79 TFS	13	[29]
	17–21 July	Fairford	International Air Tattoo	53 TFS	16	[30]
	14–22 May	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	15	[31]
	8–13 August	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	79 TFS	10	[32]
	3–10 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	19	[33]
	21–29 May	Beja	Esq 301	31 Smaldeel	15	[34]
	16–21 July	Fairford	International Air Tattoo	31 Smaldeel	24	[35]
	15–26 June	Lecheld		21 Gruppo	18	[36]
	18–24 June	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[37]
	28 June – 9 July	Beja	Esq 301	221 LtBVr	19	[38]
	2–8 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	13	[39]
	30 August – 6 September	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	JaboSt 321	14	[40]
	2–9 May	Balikesir	192 Filo	230 Sqn	11	[41]
	25 September – 2 October	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	13	[42]
	23 September – 1 October	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	18	[43]
	22 June – 29 June	Landivisiau		Fliegerstaffel 11	19	[44]
	14–25 September	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[45]
	4–15 October	Volkel	313 Sqn.	211th Sqn	18	[46]
	9–20 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12	Esq 301	19	[47]
	29 May – 8 June	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	17	[48]
	17–28 June	Ørland	338 Skv	TLG 51	19	[49]
	16–27 June	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	Fliegerstaffel 11	16	[50]
	4–16 May	Konya	192 Filo	21 Gruppo	13	[51]
	16–27 May	Zaragoza	Ala 15	31 Smaldeel	22	[52]
	5-16 June	Landivisiau		31 Smaldeel	20	[53]
	14-25 May	Poznań	6 ELT	313 Sqn.	22	[54]
	13-24 May	Mont-de-Marsan	EC 3/30	Esq 301	18	[55]
	2-14 May	Beja	Esq 301		7	[56]
	7-14 September	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel			[57]

Bibliography[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiger Meet.

• NATO Tiger Association website