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. 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. [1]
Capitain Michael Dugan of the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) searched for another squadrons in all European NATO air forces. He managed to find 5 new squadrons, the second meeting in 1962 with 8 squadrons participating. [1]
As of May 2025, the squadrons included in the Association are 24 full members, 9 honorary members, 1 probationary member, 8 disbanded members and 4 former members. All members of the Association of Tiger Squadrons have a tiger as part of their squadron crests.[2]
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
- 2. Squadron/Fighter Wing
- Belgian Air Force
- Czech Air Force
- 211. taktická letka (211th Tactical Squadron)
- 221. vrtulníková letka (221st Helicopter Squadron)
- French Air Force
- Escadron de Chasse et d'Expérimentation 1/30 'Cote d'Argent'
- Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine
- French Navy
- Flottille 11F
- German Air Force
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (Tactical Air Force Wing 51)
- Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 "Bavarian Tigers" (Tactical Air Force Wing 74)
- Hellenic Air Force
- 335 Squadron "Tigers"
- Hungarian Air Force
- 59/1 Squadron[3]
- Italian Air Force
- XII Gruppo
- 21 Gruppo (387th and 388th Flights)
- NATO (NATO Airborne Early Warning Force)
- Royal Netherlands Air Force
- 313 Squadron
- Polish Air Force
- 6 Squadron[3]
- Portuguese Air Force
- Swiss Air Force
- Spanish Air Force
- 142 Escuadrón
- Ala 15
- Turkish Air Force
- 192'nci Kaplan Filo
- Royal Air Force
- Royal Navy
Honorary members
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Indian Air Force
- Slovak Air Force
- 1 Lt (Bojova letka)
- United States Air Force
- United States Air National Guard
- United States Navy
Probationary members
- none
Former members
Members of the NATO Tiger Association until their disbanding by their respective organization.
- Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 (German Air Force)
- Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (disbanded March 2013)[3]
- Jagdbomberstaffel 431 (German Air Force)
- Escadron de Chasse 1/12 (French Air Force)
- Escadron de Chasse 1/7 "Provence" (French Air Force)
- 336 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force
- 74 (F) Squadron, RAF (disbanded 2000)
- 53rd Fighter Squadron, USAF
- 338 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force (disbanded 2018)[4]
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 | RAF Woodbridge | 79 TFS | 3 | [5] | |
| 1962 | 22–25 August | RAF Woodbridge | 79 TFS | 8 | [6]] | |
| 1963 | 27–30 August | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | 8 | [7] | |
| 1964 | 9–15 June | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 8 | [8] | |
| 1965 | 14–18 August | Bitburg | 53 TFS | 8 | [9] | |
| 1966 | 5–9 July | RAF Leuchars | 74 (F) Sqn | 8 | [10] | |
| 1967 | 29 May – 2 June | Leck Air Base | AG 52 | 7 | [11] | |
| 1968 | 16–20 August | CAFB Lahr | 439 TFS | 8 | [12] | |
| 1969 | 4–8 July | RAF Woodbridge | 79 TFS | 8 | [13] | |
| 1970 | 6–11 June | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | 8 | [14] | |
| 1971 | 14–21 June | RAF Upper Heyford | Jagdbomberstaffel 431 | 9 | [15] | |
| 1972 | 12–19 June | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 9 | [16] | |
| 1973 | 16–22 June | Cameri | 21 Gruppo | 10 | [17] | |
| 1974 | 25 June – 1 July | Bitburg | 53 TFS | 9 | [18] | |
| 1975 | 3–9 August | Leck | AG 52 | 9 | [19] | |
| 1976 | 31 May – 4 June | Baden-Soellingen | 439 TFS | 9 | [20] | |
| 1977 | 22–28 June | RAF Greenham Common | 79 TFS | 439 TFS | 11 | [21] |
| 1978 | 19–26 June | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | 31 Smaldeel | 13 | [22] |
| 1979 | 18–25 June | BA Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 439 TFS | 13 | [23] |
| 1980 | 9–16 June | Cameri | 21 Gruppo | Esq 301 | 14 | [24] |
| 1981 | 12–15 June | Bitburg | 53 TFS | 439 TFS | 8 | [25] |
| 1982 | 26–30 August | Gütersloh | 230 Sqn | Fliegerstaffel 11 | 12 | [26] |
| 1983 | 10–16 June | Baden-Soellingen | 439 TFS | JaboSt 431 | 12 | [27] |
| 1984 | 13–20 August | Leck | AG 52 | 31 Smaldeel | 13 | [28] |
| 1985 | 1–8 July | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | Esq 301 | 13 | [29] |
| 1986 | 8–16 June | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 53 TFS | 18 | [30] |
| 1987 | 23–30 June | Montijo | Esq 301 | Jagdbomberstaffel 431 | 18 | [31] |
| 1988 | 5–12 July | Cameri | 21 Gruppo | 74 (F) Sqn | 14 | [32] |
| 1990 | 12–17 August | RAF Upper Heyford | 79 TFS | 79 TFS | 13 | [33] |
| 1991 | 17–21 July | RAF Fairford | RIAT | 53 TFS | 16 | [34] |
| 1992 | 14–22 May | Albacete | 142 Esc | EC 1/12 | 15 | [35] |
| 1993 | 8–13 August | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | 79 TFS | 10 | [36] |
| 1994 | 3–10 May | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 31 Smaldeel | 19 | [37] |
| 1996 | 21–29 May | Beja | Esq 301 | 31 Smaldeel | 15 | [38] |
| 1997 | 16–21 July | RAF Fairford | RIAT | 31 Smaldeel | 24 | [39] |
| 1998 | 15–26 June | Lechfeld | JaboSt 321 | 21 Gruppo | 18 | [40] |
| 2001 | 18–24 June | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | EC 1/12 | 18 | [41] |
| 2002 | 28 June – 9 July | Beja | Esq 301 | 221 LtBVr | 19 | [42] |
| 2003 | 2–8 June | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | 31 Smaldeel | 13 | [43] |
| 2004 | 30 August – 6 September | Schleswig-Jagel | TLG 51 | JaboSt 321 | 14 | [44] |
| 2005 | 2–9 May | Balikesir | 192 Filo | 230 Sqn | 11 | [45] |
| 2006 | 25 September – 2 October | Albacete | 142 Esc | EC 1/12 | 13 | [46] |
| 2007 | 23 September – 1 October | Ørland | 338 Skv | 31 Smaldeel | 18 | [47] |
| 2008 | 22 – 29 June | Landivisiau | Flottille 11F | Fliegerstaffel 11 | 19 | [48] |
| 2009 | 14–25 September | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | EC 1/12 | 18 | [49] |
| 2010 | 4–15 October | Volkel | 313 Sqn. | 211th Sqn | 18 | [50] |
| 2011 | 9–20 May | Cambrai | EC 1/12 | Esq 301 | 19 | [51] |
| 2012 | 29 May – 8 June | Ørland | 338 Skv | 31 Smaldeel | 17 | [52] |
| 2013 | 17–28 June | Ørland | 338 Skv | TLG 51 | 19 | [53] |
| 2014 | 16–27 June | Schleswig-Jagel | TLG 51 | Fliegerstaffel 11 | 16 | [54] |
| 2015 | 4–16 May | Konya | 192 Filo | 21 Gruppo | 13 | [55] |
| 2016 | 16–27 May | Zaragoza | Ala 15 | 31 Smaldeel | 22 | [56] |
| 2017 | 5–16 June | Landivisiau | Flottille 11F | 31 Smaldeel | 20 | [57] |
| 2018 | 14–25 May | Poznań | 6 ELT | 313 Sqn. | 22 | [58] |
| 2019 | 13–24 May | Mont-de-Marsan | EC 3/30 | Esq 301 | 18 | [59] |
| 2021 | 2–14 May | Beja | Esq 301 | 12° Gruppo | 8 | [60] |
| "XT-Roar-dinary Tiger Event" 2021 | 7–14 September | Kleine Brogel | 31 Smaldeel | Event cancelled due to Covid-19 | [61] | |
| 2022 | 9–20 May | Araxos | 335 Mira | EC 3/30 | 10 | [62] |
| 2023 | 2–13 October | Gioia Del Colle | 12° Gruppo | TaktLwG 74 | 18 | [63] |
| 2024 | 3-13 June | Schleswig-Jagel | TLG 51 | 6 ELT | 14 | [64] |
| 2025 | 21 September - 6 October | Beja | Esq 301 | TBD | [65] |
Bibliography
- Heuvel, Coen van den & Tuyn, Jac van. Tiger Meet, the 25th Anniversary 'NATO' Tiger Meet, Osprey, 1986, 978-0-8504-5703-2.
References
- ^ a b "Hear them roar: the story of the NATO Tiger Association".
- ^ "Tiger Units | NATO Tigers". natotigers.org. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ a b c Archer, Bob, New Tails for the Tigers, Air Forces Monthly, Issue 317, August 2014, p. 9
- ^ "338 Skvadron | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "1961 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1962 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
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- ^ "1965 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1966 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1967 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1968 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1969 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1970 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1971 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1972 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1973 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1974 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1975 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1976 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1977 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1978 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1979 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1980 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1981 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1982 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1983 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1984 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1985 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1986 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1987 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1988 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1990 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1991 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1992 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1993 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1994 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1996 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1997 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "1998 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2001 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2002 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2003 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2004 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2005 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2006 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2007 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2008 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2009 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2010 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2011 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2012 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2013 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2014 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "2015 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2016 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2017 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "2018 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2019 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2021 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2021 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ "2022 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org.
- ^ http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2023
- ^ "2024 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "2025 | NATO Tigers". www.natotigers.org. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiger Meet.