NATO Tiger Association explained

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 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

The following 24 squadrons are full members of the association.

• Austrian Air Force
  • 1 Jet Training Squadron
  • 2. Squadron/Fighter Wing
• 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 1/30 Cote d'Argent
  • 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 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'nci Kaplan 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
  • 79th Fighter Squadron
  • 120th Fighter Squadron
  • 391st Fighter Squadron
  • 393rd Bomb Squadron
• United States Air National Guard
  • 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)^[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				3	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1961
	22–25 August				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1962
	27–30 August				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1963
	9–15 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1964
	14–18 August		53 TFS		8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1965
	5–9 July				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1966
	29 May – 2 June				7	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1967
	16–20 August				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1968
	4–8 July				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1969
	6–11 June				8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1970
	14–21 June				9	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1971
	12–19 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		9	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1972
	16–22 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo		10	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1973
	25 June – 1 July		53 TFS		9	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1974
	3–9 August				9	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1975
	31 May – 4 June				9	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1976
	22–28 June				11	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1977
	19–26 June				13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1978
	18–25 June	BA Cambrai	EC 1/12		13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1979
	9–16 June	Cameri	21 Gruppo	Esq 301	14	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1980
	12–15 June		53 TFS		8	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1981
	26–30 August				12	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1982
	10–16 June				12	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1983
	13–20 August				13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1984
	1–8 July			Esq 301	13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1985
	8–16 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12	53 TFS	18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1986
	23–30 June				18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1987
	5–12 July	Cameri	21 Gruppo		14	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1988
	12–17 August				13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1990
	17–21 July			53 TFS	16	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1991
	14–22 May		142 Esc	EC 1/12	15	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1992
	8–13 August				10	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1993
	3–10 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12		19	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1994
	21–29 May				15	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1996
	16–21 July				24	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1997
	15–26 June			21 Gruppo	18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/1998
	18–24 June			EC 1/12	18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2001
	28 June – 9 July			221 LtBVr	19	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2002
	2–8 June	Cambrai	EC 1/12		13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2003
	30 August – 6 September			JaboSt 321	14	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2004
	2–9 May	Balikesir	192 Filo		11	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2005
	25 September – 2 October		142 Esc	EC 1/12	13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2006
	23 September – 1 October		338 Skv		18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2007
	22 – 29 June	Landivisiau			19	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2008
	14–25 September			EC 1/12	18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2009
	4–15 October		313 Sqn.	211th Sqn	18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2010
	9–20 May	Cambrai	EC 1/12		19	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2011
	29 May – 8 June		338 Skv		17	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2012
	17–28 June		338 Skv		19	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2013
	16–27 June				16	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2014
	4–16 May		192 Filo	21 Gruppo	13	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2015
	16–27 May		Ala 15		22	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2016
	5–16 June	Landivisiau			20	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2017
	14–25 May		6 ELT	313 Sqn.	22	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2018
	13–24 May		EC 3/30		18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2019
	2–14 May				7	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2021
	7–14 September					https://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meet/xtm2021
	9–20 May				10	https://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meet/ntm2022
	2–13 October		12° Gruppo		18	http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2023

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tiger Units | NATO Tigers . natotigers.org . 18 May 2016.
2. Archer, Bob, New Tails for the Tigers, Air Forces Monthly, Issue 317, August 2014, p. 9