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 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 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 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 1/7 "Provence"
• 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
• 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
• 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 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
  • Aufklärungsgeschwader 52
  • Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (disbanded March 2013)
  • Jagdbomberstaffel 431
• French Air Force
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/12
• 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
NTM-1961	July 19–20	Woodbridge	79 TFS		3	[1]
NTM-1962	August 22–25	Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[2]
NTM-1963	August 27–30	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[3]
NTM-1964	June 9–15	Cambrai	EC 1/12		8	[4]
NTM-1965	August 14–18	Bitburg	53 TFS		8	[5]
NTM-1966	July 5–9	Leuchars	74 (F) Sqn		8	[6]
NTM-1967	May 29-June 2	Leck	AG 52		7	[7]
NTM-1968	August 16–20	Lahr	439 TFS		8	[8]
NTM-1969	July 4–8	Woodbridge	79 TFS		8	[9]
NTM-1970	June 6–11	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel		8	[10]
NTM-1971	June 14–21	Upper Heyford	Jagdbomberstaffel 431		9	[11]
NTM-1972	June 12–19	Cambrai	EC 1/12		9	[12]
NTM-1973	June 16–22	Cameri	21 Gruppo		10	[13]
NTM-1974	June 25-July 1	Bitburg	53 TFS		9	[14]
NTM-1975	August 3–9	Leck	AG 52		9	[15]
NTM-1976	May 31-June 4	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS		9	[16]
NTM-1977	June 22–28	RAF Greenham Common	79 TFS	439 TFS	11	[17]
NTM-1978	June 19–26	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	31 Smaldeel	13	[18]
NTM-1979	June 18–25	BA Cambrai	EC 1/12	439 TFS	13	[19]
NTM-1980	June 9–16	Cameri	21 Gruppo	Esq 301	14	[20]
NTM-1981	June 12–15	Bitburg	53 TFS	439 TFS	8	[21]
NTM-1982	August 26–30	Gütersloh	203 Sqn	Fliegerstaffel 11	12	[22]
NTM-1983	June 10–16	Baden-Soellingen	439 TFS	JaboSt 431		[23]
NTM-1984	August 13–20	Leck	AG 52	31 Smaldeel	13	[24]
NTM-1985	July 1–8	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	Esq 301	13	[25]
NTM-1986	June 8–16	Cambrai	EC 1/12	53 TFS	18	[26]
NTM-1987	June 23–30	Montijo	Esq 301	JaboSt 431	18	[27]
NTM-1988	July 5–12	Cameri	21 Gruppo	74 (F) Sqn	14	[28]
NTM-1990	August 12–17	Upper Heyford	79 TFS	79 TFS	13	[29]
NTM-1991	July 17–21	Fairford	International Air Tattoo	53 TFS	16	[30]
NTM-1992	May 14–22	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	15	[31]
NTM-1993	August 8–13	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	79 TFS	10	[32]
NTM-1994	May 3–10	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	19	[33]
NTM-1996	May 21–29	Beja	Esq 301	31 Smaldeel	15	[34]
NTM-1997	July 16–21	Fairford	International Air Tattoo	31 Smaldeel	24	[35]
NTM-1998	June 15–26	Lecheld	JaboSt 321	21 Gruppo	18	[36]
NTM-2001	June 18–24	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[37]
NTM-2002	June 28-July 9	Beja	Esq 301	221 LtBVr		[38]
NTM-2003	June 2–8	Cambrai	EC 1/12	31 Smaldeel	13	[39]
NTM-2004	August 30-September 6	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	JaboSt 321		[40]
NTM-2005	May 2–9	Balikesir	192 Filo	230 Sqn	11	[41]
NTM-2006	September 25-October 2	Albacete	142 Esc	EC 1/12	13	[42]
NTM-2007	September 23-October 1	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	18	[43]
NTM-2008	June 22-June 29	Landivisiau	Flottille 11F	Fliegerstaffel 11	19	[44]
NTM-2009	September 14–25	Kleine Brogel	31 Smaldeel	EC 1/12	18	[45]
NTM-2010	October 4–15	Volkel	313 Sqn.	211th Sqn	18	[46]
NTM-2011	May 9–20	Cambrai	EC 1/12	Esq 301	19	[47]
NTM-2012	May 29-June 8	Ørland	338 Skv	31 Smaldeel	17	[48]
NTM-2013	June 17–28	Ørland	338 Skv	TLG 51		[49]
NTM-2014	June 16–27	Schleswig-Jagel	TLG 51	Fliegerstaffel 11		[50]
NTM-2015	May 4–16	Konya	192 Filo	21 Gruppo		[51]
NTM-2016	May 16–27	Zaragoza	Ala 15	31 Smaldeel	19	[52]

Bibliography

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

External links

• NATO Tiger Association website