MAY 2011 NATO TIGER MEET CAMBRAI AFB
PHOTO BY DIEGO CROTTI
Copyright (C) Diego Crotti
The NATO Tiger Association (NTA) celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2011 tiger meet at BA103 Cambai. Over 60 aircraft from 15 nations deployed to the base in the North of France, for what looks like to become the largest military exercise in Europe this year.
For the 7th and last time in their long history, Escadron de Chasse 01.012 ‘Cambrésis’, the last of the actively participating founding Squadrons, 74Sqn disbanded in 2000 and 79FS redeployed to the US in 1993, had the honor to organize the exercise before they themselves will be disbanded, and the airbase closed at the beginning of 2012.
However the French tiger tradition will be kept alive. SPA162 ‘TIGRE’ the 90 years old tiger flight within the squadron will be transferred to BA113 Saint-Dizier where it will join EC 1/7 ‘Provance’.
Even with NATO operations over Libya, and severe budget cuts throughout the Military Forces of NATO, the NTA was able to inaugurate a new member. 6ELT from the Polish Air Force, flying the F-16C/D (Block 52+), joined the Association as probationary member, and 335Mira from the Hellenic Air Force returned with aircraft after a 3 year transition period from A-7 Corsair II to F-16C/D (Block 52+). Another newcomer in the flying OPS was honorary member 1 Sqn from the Slovak Air Force, bringing 2 MiG-29’s for a long weekend visit, and some ACM training sorties during the shadow waves. We were also pleased to host observers from 59/1 Sqn Hungarian Air Force, and 37BS USAF.
Copyright (C) Diego Crotti