Although the origin of TIGER MEET is a bit fuzzy, it appears to have started with the 79th and No 74 Squadron RAF getting together for some whiskey and cheer in 1960.
In 1961 the meeting was continued, with the addition of the French EC 1/12, and so the NATO Tiger Association was born.
The Association of Tiger Squadrons was established to improve relationships between individual squadrons within NATO. Each of these squadrons had a Tigers head in their squadron crest. The Tiger stands as a symbol of strength, speed and hunting prowess.
Since 1962, the Tiger Meets evolved into a military exercise where participants fly combined missions, with emphasis placed on air to air refuelling, air combat, the use of weapon range, etc…
HISTORY
When 74 squadron first re-equipped with the Lightning in 1960, its CO, John Howe, had been well aware of the US Air Force Tigers at Woodbridge, the 79th TFS of the 20TFW.
Correspondence between the two units had been going on since the first contacts had been established a few years before, and occasionally a social meeting was arranged. On impulse, John picked up the phone to speak to his counterpart at the Suffolk base, perhaps with a subconscious idea to set the ball rolling on some sort of operational exchange rather than a purely social one so that 74 could show off their new mount.
What he was not aware of at that time was that an old friend of his, Ed Rackham, had just taken command of the 79th TFS. Their meeting again after almost ten years prompted the idea of the two squadrons getting together on a regular operational basis. In 1962 the Tiger Meet was a much bigger affair and eight squadron were represented; the credit to this goes again to Mike Dugan (future CofS USAF), who had spent a large part of his time identifying Tiger Squadrons in all the European and European Based Air Forces.
74 was heavily involved in the workup for Farnborough at the time and, sadly, this commitment allowed the squadron to send only officers to observe and to participate in the social activities, although, as we have seen, it was able to display the lightning at the end of the Meet. Activity was not confined to the air, for apart from a full flying program, a series of conferences was held which dealt with a variety of problems and activities within the sphere of NATO operations.
Social aspects were also not overlooked. Receptions and dinners were organized for air as well as ground crews; and at the final banquet the guest of honour was General Anderson, the SHAPE Air Deputy, who by his very presence underlined the importance of the Tiger Meet in the eyes of the highest command. In his speech, General Anderson put into words for perhaps the first time the underlying aims and objectives of the Meet – The promotion of NATO solidarity, the achievement and maintenance of firmer professional relationships amongst NATO personnel and the creation of better understanding of NATO military objectives and the problems of NATO partners.
These objectives remain as valid today as they did 53 years ago.
2020 WAS CANCELLED, NEXT MEET
On April 23rd, 2020 a decision was made to cancel NTM 2020.
Esquadra 301 will host NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) 2021 in Beja in May 2021
The May 2021 event will carry the title NATO Tiger Meet, a September event in Kleine Brogel (Belgium) will host the official events to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The NATO Tiger Association.
The 5 year plan (a commitment plan to host a Tiger Meet) will continue after 2021 as originally planned.
It has been a difficult time for all, and this was the only decision that could be made to ensure the continuity of our Community.
Tiger Tiger Tiger,
and stay safe!
SILVER TIGER TROPHY
The Silver Tiger story started in 1977, when the Tiger Meet was hosted for the first time by the International Air Tattoo at RAF Greenham Common. As an old tradition in the military community, at the end of meeting there is an exchange of presents, and at this event a precious tiger made of silver was donated to the tiger community by London silversmith Mappin & Webb on request of the direcctor of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund, The late Paul Bowen.
This silver tiger soon became a trophy to be awarded during tiger meets, the winner would keep it until the next edition of a full flying tiger meet and is then honoured to stick a little silver tag with the date his unit won the trophy on the wooden base of the trophy for all to see in perpetuity.
