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.

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.

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.

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 2.Staffel / Überwachungsgeschwader 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 Army EHRA 3 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 101/1. Harcászati Repülő Század Italian Air Force 12° Gruppo 21° Gruppo (387th and 388th Flights) (NATO Airborne Early Warning Force) Squadron 1 Royal Netherlands Air Force 313 Squadron 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'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 (Bojová 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 Marineflieger 3. Bordhubschrauberstaffel / MFG 5 Slovak Air Force 1. Bojová letka

Former members

Escadron de Chasse 1/7 "Provence" (French Air Force) 53rd Fighter Squadron, USAF 494th Fighter Squadron, USAF 155° Gruppo, ItAF

Disbanded Members Members of the NATO Tiger Association until their disbanding by their respective organization.

336 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force (disbanded 1999) 338 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force (disbanded 2018) Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 (German Air Force) Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (disbanded March 2013) Jagdbomberstaffel 431 (German Air Force) Escadron de Chasse 1/12 (French Air Force) 336 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force 74 (F) Squadron, RAF (disbanded 2000)

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 1962 22–25 August RAF Woodbridge 79 TFS 8 ] 1963 27–30 August Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 8 1964 9–15 June Cambrai EC 1/12 8 1965 14–18 August Bitburg 53 TFS 8 1966 5–9 July RAF Leuchars 74 (F) Sqn 8 1967 29 May – 2 June Leck Air Base AG 52 7 1968 16–20 August CAFB Lahr 439 TFS 8 1969 4–8 July RAF Woodbridge 79 TFS 8 1970 6–11 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 8 1971 14–21 June RAF Upper Heyford Jagdbomberstaffel 431 9 1972 12–19 June Cambrai EC 1/12 9 1973 16–22 June Cameri 21 Gruppo 10 1974 25 June – 1 July Bitburg 53 TFS 9 1975 3–9 August Leck AG 52 9 1976 31 May – 4 June Baden-Soellingen 439 TFS 9 1977 22–28 June RAF Greenham Common 79 TFS 439 TFS 11 1978 19–26 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 31 Smaldeel 13 1979 18–25 June BA Cambrai EC 1/12 439 TFS 13 1980 9–16 June Cameri 21 Gruppo Esq 301 14 1981 12–15 June Bitburg 53 TFS 439 TFS 8 1982 26–30 August Gütersloh 230 Sqn Fliegerstaffel 11 12 1983 10–16 June Baden-Soellingen 439 TFS JaboSt 431 12 1984 13–20 August Leck AG 52 31 Smaldeel 13 1985 1–8 July Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel Esq 301 13 1986 8–16 June Cambrai EC 1/12 53 TFS 18 1987 23–30 June Montijo Esq 301 Jagdbomberstaffel 431 18 1988 5–12 July Cameri 21 Gruppo 74 (F) Sqn 14 1990 12–17 August RAF Upper Heyford 79 TFS 79 TFS 13 1991 17–21 July RAF Fairford RIAT 53 TFS 16 1992 14–22 May Albacete 142 Esc EC 1/12 15 1993 8–13 August Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel 79 TFS 10 1994 3–10 May Cambrai EC 1/12 31 Smaldeel 19 1996 21–29 May Beja Esq 301 31 Smaldeel 15 1997 16–21 July RAF Fairford RIAT 31 Smaldeel 24 1998 15–26 June Lechfeld JaboSt 321 21 Gruppo 18 2001 18–24 June Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel EC 1/12 18 2002 28 June – 9 July Beja Esq 301 221 LtBVr 19 2003 2–8 June Cambrai EC 1/12 31 Smaldeel 13 2004 30 August – 6 September Schleswig-Jagel TLG 51 JaboSt 321 14 2005 2–9 May Balikesir 192 Filo 230 Sqn 11 2006 25 September – 2 October Albacete 142 Esc EC 1/12 13 2007 23 September – 1 October Ørland 338 Skv 31 Smaldeel 18 2008 22 – 29 June Landivisiau Flottille 11F Fliegerstaffel 11 19 2009 14–25 September Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel EC 1/12 18 2010 4–15 October Volkel 313 Sqn. 211th Sqn 18 2011 9–20 May Cambrai EC 1/12 Esq 301 19 2012 29 May – 8 June Ørland 338 Skv 31 Smaldeel 17 2013 17–28 June Ørland 338 Skv TLG 51 19 2014 16–27 June Schleswig-Jagel TLG 51 Fliegerstaffel 11 16 2015 4–16 May Konya 192 Filo 21 Gruppo 13 2016 16–27 May Zaragoza Ala 15 31 Smaldeel 22 2017 5–16 June Landivisiau Flottille 11F 31 Smaldeel 20 2018 14–25 May Poznań 6 ELT 313 Sqn. 22 2019 13–24 May Mont-de-Marsan EC 3/30 Esq 301 18 2021 2–14 May Beja Esq 301 12° Gruppo 8 "XT-Roar-dinary Tiger Event" 2021 7–14 September Kleine Brogel 31 Smaldeel Event cancelled due to Covid-19 2022 9–20 May Araxos 335 Mira EC 3/30 10 2023 2–13 October Gioia Del Colle 12° Gruppo TaktLwG 74 18 20243-13 June Schleswig-Jagel TLG 51 6 ELT14202521 September - 6 October Beja Esq 301 Fliegerstaffel 111620264-15 May Araxos 335 Mira 12° Gruppo10

Bibliography

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

References

External links

NATO Tiger Association website