NATO TIGER MEET NTM 2008 OCEAN TIGER FLOTTILLE 11TH FLT FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION

Description: NATO TIGER MEET NTM 2008 OCEAN TIGER FLOTTILLE 11TH FLT FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION PATCHThis is an Original (not cheap import copy) NATO TIGER MEET NTM 2008 OCEAN TIGER FLOTTILLE 11TH FLT FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION PATCH. You will receive the item as shown in the first photo. Please note that there are color variations due to different settings on different PCs and different Monitors. The color shown on your screen is most likely not the true color. 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. In 1962 then Lt Mike Dugan volunteered as project officer. Lt Dugan, never one to let authority corrupt fighter pilot activities, decided it should be a true “NATO Tiger Day“. He therefore sent letters directly to all the tigers for which he found an address. A number of units immediately accepted but returned their reply “through channels “. This of course resulted in all the HQs (USAFE, 3rd AF, and the 20th Wing) descending on the 79th with “requests” as to what the hell we thought we were doing. Mike’s program won the Wing Commander’s support and they, in turn convinced Head Quarters that NATO Tigers was possible. About this same time a London paper headlined an article, “IRON CROSSES OVER SUFFOLK” or something close. I then got a call from an RAF friend at Fighter Command. It was a “friendly consultation” about “Yank” ignorance. It seems that at that time no German military aircraft were allowed near the UK. He had just spent the day un-ruffling the feathers of the Prime Minister’s press office. He’d indicated to the PR boys that both the RAF and other NATO forces were involved and a refusal of the German forces would be difficult. The result was a limited and somewhat miffed consent. USAFE also approved with file usual admonition that nothing bad better happen. After such a bumpy start, Mike’s planning and drive got everything on track and with the help of a world of people it became a success. A couple of other events colored that gathering. We had a motley assortment of tiger emblems, but the spirit was there. The French brought a large transport loaded with ammo boxes for the various competitions. When opened, most of the boxes contained champagne! The Biggin Hill 'Tiger Moth Club” almost invited themselves. This turned out to be a lucky move, since weather on the flyby day was about 400 ft. in heavy rain. Not to be discouraged -the Moths took off in flights of three and four to do flybys and low level acrobatics. A weird day. The 11th FLT was first mentioned in a letter dated January 25th 1919 and it is the oldest and most prestigious squadron in the French Marine Nationale. In 1940, the Squadron participated in the Battle of France from May to June flying Dewoitine D-520. After the Armistice the Squadron flew down to North Africa and initially became stationed at Karouba, later they moved to Casablanca and Port Lyaute. The French Fleet Air Arm was disbanded and all pilots from the Flottille were transferred to the French Air Force flying the Bell P-39 Aircobra and the Republic P-47 Thunderbold. When hostilities finished in 1945 the squadron revived and began to fly the Seafire. From 1950 to 1954 the 11th Flottille carried out two campaigns in Indochina achieving 344 war missions and 950 flying hours in the F-6F Hellcat. In 1955 the Flottille fought in North Africa flying the Aquilon. In 1960 the Flotilla was assigned to the French Aircraft Carrier "Clemenceau". April 1st, 1963 was the day the Flotille received the brand new aircraft, built by Marcel Dassault for carrier ops. the "Etandard IV M". In 1967 the Flottille left hyeres to be stationed at Landivisiau, this is today still the home base of Flotille 11. In 1978, the "Etandard" was replaced by its more capable successor the "Super-Etandard". which still is the operational aircraft at this time. The 11th Flottille does not have a tiger in their crest, however the Clemenceau carried the tiger crest when they where admitted to the NTA. When in 1997 the "Clemenceau" retired from service the squadron was allowed to keep their tiger-status for they had shown true tiger spirit in past years. Currently the 11th Flottille uses the French Aircraft Carrier "Charles De Gaulle" for its off base operations, the carrier was the home from which the squadron operated in the Kosovo crisis. The 11th Flottille is on of the squadron awaiting the arrival of the Aeronavale's newest aircraft the Dassault "Rafale M".. Other items in other pictures are for your reference only, available in my eBay Store. They will make a great addition to your NTM Insignia collection. You find only US Made items here, with the same LIFETIME warranty. I will send replacement patch if you return the damaged patch under normal use. 20101710 **eBay REQUIRES ORDER BE SENT WITH TRACKING, PLEASE SELECT USPS 1ST CLASS SERVICE w/TRACKING** **eBay REQUIRES ORDER BE SENT WITH TRACKING, PLEASE SELECT USPS 1ST CLASS SERVICE w/TRACKING** We'll cover your purchase price plus shipping. FREE 30-day No-Question returnALL US-MADE PATCHES HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTYWe do not compete price with cheap import copies.Watch out for cheap import copies with cut-throat price; We beat cheap copies with Original design, US-Made Quality and customer services.Once a customer, a LIFETIME of services

Price: 21.99 USD

Location: Kandahar Polo Club

End Time: 2024-03-07T21:42:08.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.99 USD