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Photographer: Jean-Michel Lefebvre ©
Date: 16
June 1972
Size: .B&W 135 negatives
Subject: 12th
Tiger Meet
Place: BA
103 " René Mouchotte ". Cambrai
Country: France
Caption:
Just modified for the present edito, such was the cover of the
official booklet published by 1/12 Cambresis Squadron. Foreword
was so written by the then BA 103 C/O, Colonel Dechelette:
I am happy to welcome you on the René Mouchotte Air Base for
this twelwth Tiger Meet.
This occasion may be an opportunity to tighten relationship
between pilots of different nation but having the same spirit
despite the diversity of their planes.
I wish that your visit be fully profitable and that either your
human or aerial experience increase and that you kept the best
remembering of the French Tigers...
Fighters be alive.
EDITORIAL
TIGER MEET or
WATER MEET ? such was the question during the open day for
members of Press and other enthusiasts in this day of mid June
1972. Finally aircraft having to marry with rain it was a
TIGERWATERMEET and any camera and lens on the field did not
appreciate at all what was falling from sky...
This little cyber mag being a pictorial, it is not question here
to tell the story of what was, since beginning of the 6Os, first
the NATO TIGER MEET, then TIGER MEET. Simply it was the answer to
a French Minister of Defence's wish to improve Franco-American
relations and to tighten links between NATO countries. So,
through brains working in French and American Staffs and flying
units, Tiger and OTAN became the master words to build and
organise a yearly session between squadrons and so maintain
between flying units, under symbols of speed, strength and
fighting ability of the wild animal, good professional and
friendship relations amongst men being in charge to maintain
peace and freedom in Europe. First session was held at the UK
Woodbridge US AFB in 1961 between USAF 79th Tactical Fighter
Squadron which had the idea of combat units meeting under the
same emblem as theirs, Tigers of Armée de l'Air Fighter Squadron
1/12 Cambrésis and those of RAF 74th TFS of Coltishall which was
invited by the american unit due to its neighbourhood and old
friendship as tigers... It was a true success and 1962 saw eight
tiger squadrons meeting and so aeronautical minded medias doing
very much for what became a star event.
JMJ Lefebvre
