TIGER! TIGRE! TIGROS!
The date - September 2009. The place - Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium.
The event - NATO Tiger Meet 2009.
The NATO Tiger Association can trace its history back to 1961 when the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron (USAFE), 74(F) Squadron (Royal Air Force) and Escadron de Chasse 1/12 (French Air Force) held a one day 'Meet' at RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England. At the time the 79th TFS already had an ongoing relationship with 74(F) Squadron at RAF Coltishall, the French Government were keen to bolster Franco-American relationships and the fact that all three units shared a commonality in that they sported a Tiger emblem in their respective squadron badges, led to the formation of the NATO Tigers. The second Tiger Meet was also hosted by the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron and attracted eight units from six different nations. Year on year its reputation spread, the event grew and the rest as they say is history.
The 2009 event is the 45th Tiger Meet to take place and the sixth to be held at Kleine Brogel, 31 Smaldeel of the Belgian Air Component having a long history of hosting these events, dating as far back as the third Tiger Meet held in 1963. For the first time the event will also be held over an extended period of two weeks.
Initially the Tiger Meet was more of a social gathering than anything else, but over the years it has provided an opportunity for its members to conduct various flying exercises such as air to air, low level strike missions and COMAO's (Composite Air Operations). With a number of units now flying helicopters the need to integrate these into the daily sorties has resulted in them being used as Forward Air Controllers (FAC) and for Combat Search & Rescue (CSAR) training. Each year the 'Silver Wings Trophy' is awarded by way of a secret ballot to the unit that is regarded as having the best overall performance/appearance at the Tiger Meet.
Lets start with the host unit of the 2009 event, 31 Squadron of the Belgian Air Component. A member of the NATO Tiger Association since 1962, it was the fourth member to join the 'Tiger' ranks and is part of 10 Wing based at Kleine Brogel. The unit was formed in 1951 at Chievres with Supermarine Spitfires and then moved to its current home in February 1955. It has since flown Republic F-84G Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak, the ubiquitous Lockheed F-104G Starfighter and its current mount, the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon, which it has flown since late 1982, conversion to the type being completed in August of 1983.
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Next on our list is Escadron de Chasse 01/012 from Cambrai. This French Air Force unit was one of the three original members of the Tiger Association and is now the only full member of those original three in existance, the 79th Fighter Squadron of the U.S Air Force now only being an Honorary Member and 74(F) Squadron of the Royal Air Force having disbanded. Formed in 1918 as Escadrille SPA.162, it still sports this unit badge on the tail fin of its aircraft.
Re-formed in 1953 at Cambrai after an absence of some 34 years with the Dassault Ouragon, EC.01/012 has since flown a number of Dassault aircraft, including the Mystere IV, Super Mystere and Mirage F.1C. The squadron currently flies the Dassault Mirage 2000C, having received the first of this type back in 1992.
EC. 01/012 were the winners of this years 'Silver Wings' Trophy, pipping AG.51 for first place by way of scoring more points on the flying discipline, the two squadrons finishing equal on points at the end of this years Tiger Meet.
(photo: NATO Tiger Association)
Mirage 2000C 103-YR taxies out for a morning mission at Kleine Brogel, proudly displaying its striking colour scheme
Aufklarungsgeschwader 51 (AG.51), or Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 51 can trace its Tiger history back to 1963, when as AG.52 it became the fifth member of the Tiger community. Founded at Erding in 1959 the unit flew RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft, it transitioned to the RF-104G Starfighter in1963 and in 1971 became the first Luftwaffe unit to fly the RF-4E Phantom II. The unit was disbanded in 1993 and re-established on 1st January 1994 at Schleswig-Jagel, where it still resides as of today. At the same time it took on the ex-Marineflieger Tornado's of MFG-1 and adopted the markings of AG.52, albeit with the number 51 transposed where previously the number 52 had resided. Two units, 511 and 512 Squadrons form part of AG.51, although it is 512 which is the official 'Tiger' Squadron.
AG.51's specially painted Tornado IDS for 2009 was 45-06, seen here on the 18th September.
The 'Last Call' titling refers to the fact that 512 Staffel is due to disband during the latter part of 2009.
The Aeronautica Militaire Italiano is represented by 21 Gruppo at Grazzanise. Up until 2006, when it transitioned to the Agusta-Bell AB.212 helicopter, 21 Gruppo had a long and historic relationship with the NATO Tigers as a fighter unit, having been a member since 1968 with the F-104G Starfighter, then subsequently the F-104S and finally the PANAVIA Tornado F.3.
Having fought alongside the Luftwaffe during the invasion of the Soviet Union during WW2, it later operated alongside 'Allied' units as part of 51 Stormo from September 1943. Prior to operating the Lockheed F-104 the unit flew P-47 Thunderbolts, F-84G Thunderjets, F-84F Thunderstreak and the F-86K Sabre.
21 Gruppo Agusta-Bell AB.212 MM81148 seen during a CSAR exercise at Kleine Brogel
Flieger Staffel 11 of the Swiss Air Force first attended a Tiger Meet back in 1981 at Bitburg, hosted by the 53rd TFS USAFE, but did not bring any aircraft during its first outings. It is unique in that the unit does not form part of the NATO Alliance and until it became a full member in 2004 attended on an 'observer' basis. The first time it brought any aircraft to a meet was at RAF Fairford in 1991 when it flew the Northrop F-5E Tiger II. Having moved from Dubendorf Air Base when that closed, it is now based at Meiringen Air Base with the McDonnell-Douglas FA-18C Hornet.
From 1959 until 1979 FlSt 11 flew the Hawker Hunter FGA.58 and is one of a few full time squadrons within the Swiss Air Force, its pilots being among the elite few who work as multi-roled instructors providing reservist pilots with a wide range of flying training missions.
J-5011 proudly displaying its Tiger marks at 'Tiger Meet 2009'
J-5010 made a token effort at getting into the Tiger spirit with its centre-line tank displaying a modest Tiger scheme
142 Escuadron is part of Ala de Caza 14 of the Spanish Air Force and unlike other Tiger units does not display its own squadron badge on its aircraft, instead having the wing badge depicting Don Quixote saluting a flight of three Mirage aircraft. The Mirage F.1 aircraft currently flown by the unit were taken on charge in several batches from 1975 onwards and consists of a mix of F.1CE, F.1EE and F.1BE models. It attended its first Tiger Meet in 1986 at Cambrai and is primarily an air defence unit, although it also takes on a secondary ground attack role and is based at Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base.
The Tiger tail worn by '14-31' was one of two Mirages displaying this scheme.
The unit provided two Mirage F.1M aircraft and also two Mirage F.1EE's, identifiable by their refulling probe as seen above.
The Spanish Air Force is one of a few countries that has two units within the Tiger community, as along with 142 Escuadron of Ala 14, they are also represented by Ala 15 from Zaragosa Air Base with its McDonnell-Douglas EF-18 Hornets. Ala 15 is a relatively young unit in that it was only formed in 1985, attending their first meet in 2006 and only being granted 'Full Member' status last year (2008) during 'Ocean Tiger' at Landivisiau.
The wings Tiger unit badge however dates back to 1956 when it was part of Ala 2 flying the Republic F-86F Sabre. The multi-role task of Ala 15 within the Ejercito del Aire is that of air-to-air, air-to-ground and SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence), it is also the OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) and therefore trains all future Hornet drivers.
EF-18A Hornet C.15-24 (code 15-11) was one of two brought to the 2009 event by Ala.15
The predecessor of the current 211th Tactical Squadron, the 41st Fighter Squadron was established on January 1st, 1995 during the reorganization process of the Czechoslovakian Air Force. In 1991 the unit was invited as an observer to the 30th Tiger Meet at RAF Fairford. Two years later the squadron was voted an Honorary Member of the NATO Tiger Association.
On their move to Caslav in 1995 the Squadron was equipped with the MiG-23ML and Aero L-39, and flew these aircraft until December 1998 when the MiG-23 was withdrawn from service and the unit re-equipped with the MiG-21MF. On December 1st 2003 the designation was changed to the 211th Tactical Squadron. In July 2005 the MiG-21’s where withdrawn from service and the 211th re-equipped with the SAAB JAS-39C/D Gripen, meaning that the unit could now fully integrate into NATINEADS (NATO Integrated Extended Air Defence System). With full flying participation in a Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) and the NATO Tiger Meet in 2008, the latter leading to Probational Membership status, a new step forward to Full NTA Membership is alomost complete.
211 Squadron provided three aircraft for this years meet, 9237 being chosen to wear the squadrons Tiger marks.
Number 313 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force was officially formed in 1953 as an Operational Conversion Unit flying Lockheed T-33's at Volkel Air Base. Having earlier disbanded it reformed again in October 1972 at Twente as an OCU flying the NF-5A Freedom Fighter. In September 1986 the training role was taken over by 316 Squadron and 313 Squadron became a front-line unit up until 1988.
By April 1990, 313 Sqn became operational again and in October 1990 changed the unit badge to a Tiger, becoming a member of the NATO Tiger Association and attending their first meet at RAF Upper Heyford the same year. During 2004 the squadrons future looked quite dreary, when the decision was made to close its home base of Twente and disband the two resident squadrons. Fortunately though, 313 Sqn had a reprieve and re-formed again at its current home base of Volkel.
313 Squadron from nearby Volkel airbase did not really get the Tiger spirit this year, with no aircraft wearing any special schemes other than that worn by the 2009 RNLAF display aircraft.
J-062 (above) wears the standard RNLAF markings.
Based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and operating the Agusta-Westland Merlin HM.1, No.814 Naval Air Squadron is primarily tasked with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) duties. It was formed in 1938 as a Torpedoe Reconnaissance Squadron flying the famous Fairey Swordfish and then flew a variety of fixed-wing ASW platforms including the Fairey Gannet.
Its first rotary platform was the Westland Whirlwind, equipping with the type in 1960 and subsequently followed by variants of the Wessex and Sea King helicopters prior to conversion to the Merlin. This highly effective, multi-role platform is the very latest in ASW technology and is the most comprehensively equipped ASW helicopter in the World today. With the Merlin, 814 Naval Air Squadron will remain at the forefront of ASW operations well into the twenty-first century.
Escadron de Chasse 05/330 of the Centre d'Experiences Aeriennes Militaires (CEAM) based at Mont de Marsan flies a variety of aircraft and evaluates new equipment prior to acceptance into the French Air Forces front-line units. It was formed by the French Government in 1957 to test the Dassault Super Mystere B.2, the first supersonic aircraft delivered to the Armee de L'Air and it obtained full squadron status in 1965, becaming an independant unit in its own right during October 1987. As mentioned previously the unit currently flies a number of types including the Dassault Mirage 2000 and the new Dassault Rafale.
EC.5/330 bought along three Rafale B's with this particular machine being one of the nicest aircraft at the 2009 event
Sadly their Mirage 2000-5's lacked the Tiger spirit shown on the Rafale above, but were nevertheless welcome participants
The original 'Tiger Member' from Norway was 336 Squadron equipped with the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. When
this unit disbanded the Tiger badge was passed to 338 Squadron so as to not lose its identity within the NATO Tiger Association. The squadron became a 'Full Member' of the Tiger community in 2003 and is also part of NATO's Immediate Reaction Force, which involves flying missions in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Balkans.
The units history goes back to 1954 when it formed at Sola Air Base with the Republic F-84G Thunderjet. In October of that same year it moved to its current home at Orland and re-equipped with the F-86 Sabre in 1958, and subsequently the F-5 in 1966, which it flew for some nineteen years. Its current mount is the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
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338 Squadron of the RNoAF brought no less than six aircraft to the 2009 Tiger Meet, with their 'prize' being this Tiger marked General Dynamics F-16A.
Providing an alternative Tiger style was this 338 Squadron F-16B with a slightly more subtle (but no less striking) Tiger scheme.
Having attended the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in 1994, the then 1st Helicopter Squadron/51st Regiment were invited to a 'mini' Tiger Meet at RAF Valley by 74(F) Squadron of the Royal Air Force. In 1995 all Czech Air Force Hind squadrons were relocated to Prerov Air Base to form the 33rd Wing and 331 Squadron was formed, inheriting the Tiger badge of the 1st Helicopter Squadron.
In 2001 the Prerov "Tigers" where officially accepted as a full member of the NATO Tiger Association and won the Silver Tiger Trophy in 2002. Due to re-structuring in the Czech Air Force 33 Wing was renumbered to 23 Wing and 331 Sqn changed to 231 Sqn. Then in 2008, 231 Sqn moved from Prerov to Namest Air Base and was re-allocated to the 22nd Wing. This transfer led to another change in designation from 231 Sqn to 221 Sqn. Today 221 Squadron still flies the Mi-24V 'Hind' helicopter as well as the more modern Mi-35 'Hind'.
Mi-35 Hinds 7354 (above) and 7360 provided the Czech Air Forces helicopter element, seen here taking part in a CSAR exercise
The Portuguese Air Force's 301 Squadron has it roots in the 'Jaguares' of 62 Sqn, one of two Fiat G.91 units that fought during the guerilla war in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique. 301 Squadron was formed from the 'ashes' of this conflict in 1976 and attended its first Tiger Meet in 1978 at Kleine Brogel equipped with the Fiat G.91.
During 1993 the German Luftwaffe retired its Breguet-Dornier Alphajets and some fifty of these aircraft were purchased by the Portuguese Air Force (as had been many Fiat G.91's). Having moved to Beja Air Base, 301 Sqn re-equipped and operated the Alphajet until 2005. The unit then re-formed at Monte Real Air Base on 25th November 2005 with the General Dynamics F-16 (MLU), which it still operates to this day.
15139 from 301 Squadron seen at Kleine Brogel in 2007
Another German Air Force Tiger squadron is 1 Staffel/32 Jagdbombergeschwader (JBG.32) based at Lechfeld. Formed at Lechfeld in 1958 with the F-84 Thunderstreak and then later the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter and PANAVIA Tornado IDS, today it flies the ECR (electronic combat & reconnaissance) version of the Tornado.
1 Staffel officially became a member of the NATO Tiger community in 1994 and a Full Member in 1996. In 1995 the unit deployed to Piacenza in Italy, in support of the UN missions for peace in the Balkans. Since then, they formed - together with the Recce Tornados from AG.51- the Luftwaffe's Operational Wing No. 1 at Piacenza airbase in Northern Italy. The Luftwaffe embarking upon its first war-like operation since WW II in March 1999 as part of operation 'Allied Force' to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo.
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JBG.32 was a late arrival at the 2009 event, only appearing five days into the meet.
The final unit attending this years Tiger Meet was 1 Squadron of the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing of the Hungarian Air Force from Kecsemet Air Base. This was the first time they had officially attended a Tiger Meet with any aircraft, bringing with them four Saab Gripens. The unit re-equipped with the Gripen between 2006 and 2007, having previously operated the Mikoyan Mig.29 fighter. The previous occasion that 1/59 had attended a Tiger Meet was as observers in 2001, when the event was also held at Kleine Brogel. This year they attended as official 'Probationary' members.
(photo: NATO Tiger Association)
As always everyone likes to do their bit to get involved and there was plenty of 'Tiger' vans, cars and uniforms adorned with Tiger regalia. One of the more unusual were the 'Tiger Feet' worn by AG.51 crews (left).
(photo: NATO Tiger Association)
Also not wanting to miss out was the Belgian Air Force IAI Hunter-B UAV unit, who adorned one of their drones with a suitable Tiger scheme (above) whilst this SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 also adopted Tiger colours (below).
Sadly a few members of the Tiger community could not attend this years event for a variety of reasons such as being involved in other commitments, or in the case of 335 MIRA from the Hellenic Air Force, who are currently undergoing conversion from the A-7E Corsair to the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
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