Base Visit #12 - Tiger Meet of the Americas 2003

	The home teams star attraction! CF-18A 188720 basking in the early morning sunshine during the pre-Tiger meet open day. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K25 200/F5.6		The striking stripes of the Tiger Meet Of The Americas CF-18A flagship. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	Capt. Travis 'Brass' Brassington, 410 Sqn's 2003 west coast Hornet demo pilot, gets the 'wave off' before performing a very spirited display on the Saturday. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F8		Nocturnal Hornet. 2003 marked the tenth year that a Cold Lake Hornet has received a special paint scheme for the air show season by the artist Jim Belliveau. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	Showing off their stripes, the Colorado ANG and the 410 Sqn. Tiger flagships fly up to the New Jersey ANG KC-135E for a photo pass during a Tiger Meet LFE mission. © SMSgt John Rohrer-CO ANG		Ready to pounce! © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm
	Roll-up, roll-up, get your TMOTA T-shirts, ball caps here, very good, very cheap! © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		Capt. James ‘Buca’ Kettles, 410 TF(OT)S CF-18 Instructor Pilot and overall director for the 2003 Tiger Meet Of The Americas. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	Cpl. Sonia Vautaur, part of the 2003 410 Sqn. CF-18 demo team with team mascot ‘Tigger’ strike a pose. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		The 120th Fighter Squadron's Tiger (or should that be Cougar?) bird sits pretty on the ramp at Cold Lake during the pre-Tiger meet open day. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The 'Cougars' hot rod, 87-0284. the scheme was based on 2001's TMOTA low-viz scheme..with added colour! © Peter Greengrass EOS-1N 28-70mm K64 250/F5.6		At the first TMOTA in 2001, the 120th FS went the low-Viz route..In 2003 they splashed out on some colour paint..it was money well spent..they won the 'Best painted Jet' trophy. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	Showing off its stripes, F-16C 87-0284, with Colorado TMOTA team leader 'Juice' at the controls. © Cpl Rob Bottrill - Official CAF Photo		The TMOTA F-16 teams operated from the AFFTC ramp, setting up shop using the Maple Flag facilities next to the based Hawks of 419 Squadron. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F8
	The 120th FS Tiger flagship gets airborne on the first Large Force Employment mission of TMOTA 2003. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm		The stunning Colorado Tiger Viper Taxiing out to the active runway for another Tiger LFE. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm
	Returning to it's lair after the first mission of TMOTA '03 is one of the 8 F-16C's of the 120th FS, CO ANG that made the long trip north to Cold Lake. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F5.6		The Colorado Cougars hunt for prey over northern Alberta. The 120th FS brought eight F-16Cs to the Tiger Meet. © SMSgt John Rohrer-CO ANG
	A nice view of a 120th FS F-16C sliding into position to refuel over Alberta on day two of the flying program. © SMSgt John Rohrer-CO ANG		A couple of Colorado Vipers get there last checks prior to commencing their second LFE mission. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 200/F8
	120th FS Pilots step to their jets for the second LFE mission on Tuesday. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 320/F5.6		Apart from putting a great deal of time and effort into the units Tiger flagship Viper, the Colorado Guards paint crew also came up with matching a '76 Buick Bonneville and even a Tiger Quad Bike! © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	The Colorado Guard’s Ammo crew posing in the latest line of Tiger fashions. Definitely not military issue! © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		Members of the team responsible for the outstanding Colorado ANG Tiger striped F-16C receive the trophy for best Tiger paint scheme at the conclusion of TMOTA 2003. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	The ‘Beer Bungee’ was one of a number of Tiger games devised to encourage teamwork and camaraderie amongst the Tiger teams. The idea being to reach and drink the beer whilst attached to a bungee cord. Here a 'Cougar' gets the encouragement.. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8		Subtle Tiger marks adorn F-15E 90-0236, shot during the small but well laid out open day. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The business end of the impressive F-15E with ‘Bold Tigers’ pilot and WSO ready to do battle with Red Air over Cold Lake. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F8		The ‘Bold Tigers’ F-15E flagship wears subtle Tiger markings for 2003. Bigger and better things are expected for when they host TMOTA 2005. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The 'Bold Tigers' brought 4 Strike Eagles to Cold Lake. F-15E 90-0259/MO being one of them. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8		The 391st Fighter Squadron's Tiger Ship captured heading for the runway and another mission during TMOTA 2003. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F8
	F-15Es from the 391st FS ‘Bold Tigers’, eventual winners of TMOTA 2003, make their way to the runway at the start of another LFE mission. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm		Photographers frame the 391st FS TMOTA flagship as it arrives back from the range at the conclusion of the first Large Force Employment mission. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	The impressive TMOTA trophy goes to its second home - Mountain Home - for another two years. The Bold Tigers were worthy winners and will be inviting everyone to Idaho in 2005 to compete for 'Best Tiger Team' all over again. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		Owners of the newest Vipers at Cold Lake were the 79th FS 'Tigers'. Here 00-0226 taxi's out whilst one of the oldest aircraft present - a T-33A from the AETE - waits it's turn. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	79th FS ‘Tigers’ F-16CJ complete with the squadron co’s travel pod ready for the journey home to Shaw AFB at the conclusion of TMOTA 2003. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		With the flying over the final day of TMOTA was given over to the notorious Tiger Games. Although played for laughs, the Beer-Bungee was still a hard fought competition, won eventually by the NATO AWACS team. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm
	Following TMOTA 2001 the Vermont ANGs 134thFS 'Catamounts' were definitely in the Tiger club, it was good to see they still had the Tiger spirit at Cold Lake, again bringing two jets with them. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		The Catamounts badge was a small but welcome addition to the Vermont Guard F-16s. A more ambitious design was rejected for the tail but it is hoped that 2005 will bring a bolder design. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The Green Mountain Claw! Making a return appearance at the Tiger Meet was the green foam claw belonging to the Catamounts. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm		The 141st ARS didn't disappoint ...bringing KC-135E 58-0078 with a very large Tiger on the side. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The 141st ARS, New Jersey ANG have a tradition of painting a large tiger on their KC-135 for Tiger Meet’s. This is the latest incarnation. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8		Honours for traveling the farthest to TMOTA goes to the 1st Flying Squadron's E-3A AWACS. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 125/F8
	The NATO E-3 team of the 1st Flying Squadron debrief after a mission (Correction!, the NATO AWACS crew partake in the Karaoke competition) Come to think of it, either of the above would apply! © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 17-40mm		All 4Wing CF-18 squadrons participated in the LFE missions, 441 TFS were guest participants and flew as opposing Red-Air fighters. Here, their flagship 'Checkerboard' CF-18A is seen in a rare burst of sunlight. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm
	The TMOTA gave visiting pilots the chance to experience the capabilities of different aircraft types at first hand. In this instance, a 79th FS ‘Tigers’ F-16CJ pilot gets a backseat ride in a CF-18B during one of the Tiger Meet missions. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm		CF-18A 188712 of 416 (Lynx) Squadron was a guest participant of TMOTA 2003. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm
	Caught in some rare but much appreciated Canadian sunshine, two Hornets from 441 Sqn 'Silver Fox' head for the runway. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 70-200mm K64 250/F8		417 CSS CH-146 Griffon 146415, borrowed by the 439 CSS for the Tiger Meet. © Peter Greengrass EOS-1V 28-70mm K64 250/F8
	The Tiger CH-146 Griffon of 439 Combat Support Squadron flies the unit’s flag past the Cold Lake control tower. © Kevin Jackson EOS-10D 70-200mm		We came armed with nothing more than our cameras, the 35mm Tiger Team were made up of the various photographers visiting Cold Lake. Here we are coming 5th (out of 8 teams) in the Hornet-Pull ( there really is a CF-18B on the end of the rope, Honest guv!) © CMSgt Jim Desranleau - VT ANG


Article and Photos by:
	Kevin Jackson
	Additional Photos by:
Peter Greengrass

© ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal. NO PHOTOS MAYBE USED/PUBLISHED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal.

When the Sharpshooter team covered the inaugural Tiger Meet Of The Americas in 2001 we witnessed a new exercise and a new concept in North America. Although well established, the annual European NATO Tiger Meet is still a mystery to many people outside of Europe and NATO. We were fortunate to have almost exclusive access to the Colorado ANG’s organization and execution of TMOTA 01 and our words and images have hopefully informed a wider audience through this and other web sites as well as aviation publications.

Being witness to the ‘birth’ of the TMOTA, we wanted to continue our association and lend our support. So it was on September 11^th 2003 we packed our photo gear and boarded a plane for Alberta, tracking the paw prints all the way up to 4Wing Cold Lake, Canada’s largest fighter base and home to the TMOTA 2003 host unit, 410 ‘Cougar’ Squadron.

TMOTA-03 – The Sequel

410 are the CF-18 Operational Training unit, one of three CF-18 squadrons at Cold Lake and have held the TMOTA trophy for two years after being voted overall winners at Buckley AFB in August 2001. Capt. James ‘Buca’ Kettles, a CF-18 Instructor Pilot with the Cougars was chief Tiger Meet Of The Americas 2003 project officer. He volunteered to head the team ‘cold’, having no prior knowledge of the TMOTA in Colorado: “I’d never been to a Tiger Meet before, I’d never even heard of a Tiger Meet. The Squadron asked me if I wanted to be the project officer and I said ‘Yeah, sure’. You know, it can’t be that difficult, it’s not going to that big? Boy was I wrong!”

Buca sent invitations to every unit in North America with a big cat association a year before: “It started out that 410 Squadron was going to handle everything, then it started getting a little bigger so I asked 4Wing if they could help us out and it has turned out great. The whole wing has been participating and it has helped to have a big team behind us so that the little details are not forgotten.” Apart from the seven visiting units, Buca invited the other two resident Cold Lake Hornet squadrons to take part. While 416 ‘Lynx’ Squadron already had a big cat association, 441 ‘Silver Fox’ Squadron was invited as a guest so the whole fighter wing would be involved.

So on Friday September 12^th a total of 287 personnel from 7 visiting units descended on a cold and rainy Cold Lake. A small open day was held on Saturday 13^th for the local population to view the colourful tiger markings and learn a little about the TMOTA. That evening saw the first of the tiger games with a Karaoke session at the Junior Ranks Club.
Sunday morning everyone gathered at the 4Wing theatre for the official welcome and a briefing for the three days of the Large Force Employment (LFE) exercise. The theme for the next week being typically Canadian: “Skate hard but don’t tear your sweater”.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Monday September 15^th would see the first of three Large Force Employment (LFE) exercises over the vast Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (with the appropriate feline acronym of ‘CLAWR’!). The three Tiger Meet LFEs used resources from 4 Wing’s Air Force Tactical Training Centre (AFFTC), including the excellent rangeless Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system, briefing/debriefing facilities, and offices.

Cougars Everywhere…

The dominance by the 140^th Wing, Colorado ANG in the Tiger Games can be explained by the fact that, out of the 287 visiting military personnel, no less than 174 were from the Colorado ANG!

‘Lobo’, a Major assigned to the 120^th FS explained to the author how this invasion came to be: “It was seen as a reward for the hard work and support the 140^th Wing provided during our deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. There are some parts of the wing here that did deploy with us for OIF, there are other people that didn’t and they held down the fort back home while we were gone. So our wing commander said that he wanted as many people who do not normally deploy to come up to Cold Lake. We brought some medical folks, our civil engineers, we had finance people to do our travel vouchers, and information management folks help out with the orders. These are the people who get all of the paperwork done for us so it was great to have them here with us for once. We’ve also been providing support for other units up here because they brought just enough people required to fly the airplanes. Essentially the aim was to give as many people as possible the opportunity to deploy to what is a fun time, and they can get some training in as well. We still have the homeland defense mission back at Buckley AFB, so we had to leave jets and maintenance people there to keep that operation going but we brought eight jets and as many people as we could fit on the transport aircraft.”

Lobo has also visited two European Tiger Meets since helping to organize the first TMOTA at Buckley AFB, Colorado in 2001, giving him some perspective on the differences between the two: “The big difference between the European NATO Tiger Meet and the TMOTA is the history. With the NTM things are very well established, the flag raising ceremony, the welcome dinner, it is very formalized. Not only is the TMOTA in an infantile state but also it is intended to be a little less formal.”

Small Team, Big Spirit

In stark contrast to the large delegation from Colorado, the smallest Tiger team was comprised of just two members. 439 Combat Support Squadron is Canada’s only official Tiger squadron and is assigned to 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec. 439 CSS Commander Major Joel Roy, and CplC. Rejean Martel, borrowed a CH-146 Griffon from 417 CSS based at Cold Lake and decorated it with a Tiger. The TMOTA was 439 Squadron’s first Tiger Meet since the closure of CFB Baden-Sollingen and the Canadian Forces’ withdrawal from Europe in 1993. Maj. Roy saw it as a chance to renew the tradition, as he was a former CF-18 pilot who has attended a number of European Tiger Meets when based in Germany: "It was a pleasure to notice that the same spirit of camaraderie and professionalism lives on in the Tigers community on this side of the Atlantic."

Tiger Oscars

The 120^th FS received the trophy for the best-painted Tiger Jet. Congratulations were given to the skills, efforts, and perseverance of those who made it happen. Special mention was also made of the Colorado Guards outstanding Tiger Spirit and contribution to the 2003 event.

The Maintenance award went to the 79^th FS out of Shaw Air Force Base. They launched 12 out of 12 jets during the week. The 120^th FS came in a close second by launching 23 out of 24 jets.

The vote for the Tiger Meet Of The Americas 2003 overall winning team went to the 391^st Fighter Squadron ‘Bold Tigers’. They proudly take the TMOTA trophy back to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. They have the honour of hosting TMOTA 2005 and will no doubt organize another outstanding event, helping the TMOTA tradition to further establish itself throughout the North American continent.

A Superior Tiger Meet

Buca and his team from 410 TF(OT)S and 4Wing organized an outstanding week of flying and socializing that created many friendships and helped cement the Tiger camaraderie between units. The hospitality of the Canucks cannot be faulted, with a welcome that was much warmer than the unseasonable weather! Jim Belliveau, TMOTA Deputy Director and the graphic artist who designed the amazing Tiger/Cougar colour scheme for the TMOTA flagship CF-18A 188720, summed up the view held by everyone at the conclusion of TMOTA 2003: “I think it’s been overly successful. If the bottom line is to produce a superior Tiger Meet in a thoroughly professional manner, we have succeeded.”

The three Large Force Employment (LFE) missions were taken from the second week of the standard Maple Flag scenario – Blue Force is winning the war and has air superiority. Each LFE would have three aircraft packages – offensive counter-air, strike, and Special Forces support – along with air-to-air refueling and AWACS cover. Whereby the Maple Flag planners would assign missions to units, the TMOTA planners at 410 Sqn, led by Capt. Rick ‘Slick’ Williams wanted to give the TMOTA units the freedom to choose the role they wanted to adopt so they could match participation to their individual training requirements. The Blue Force/Red Force split was typically 26 v 6. Visiting units and 410 TF(OT)S were Blue Force, with Special-Forces insertion carried out by 439 Squadron using the CH-146 Griffon. Red Force alternated daily with 441 TFS on Monday, 416 TFS on Tuesday, and 410 TF(OT)S on Wednesday. All the Red Force assets came from 4Wing for safety reasons, as they were already familiar with local operating procedures. A interesting addition to the Red Air assets were two civilian Hawker Hunters of the Northern Lights company who have a contract with the Canadian DoD to replace the recently withdrawn CT-33s in some support roles.

Intel laid out the scenario whereby the range airspace was divided into the fictional countries of ‘Red Land, ‘Blue Land and ‘Grey Land’. Red Land has invaded Blue Land for its oil fields and the coalition forces would assist Blue Land in driving out Red Land. For the three LFE’s, Blue Land was supported by coalition “Tiger” forces. These included F-15Es, F-16s, CF-18s, a KC-135, an E-3A AWACS and a CH-146. The Red Land Air Force consisted of CF-18s simulating Mig-29s and Mig-23s while the two Hawker Hunters of the Northern Lights Company simulated Mig-21s. The Maple Flag Range complex supported the Red Land ground based air defense system.

Although the 79^th FS's Tiger flagship failed to get to Cold Lake due to a technical problem, the jets Crew Chief, SSgt. Todd Ross created this masterpiece in chalk on the squadron CO’s replacement F-16...whilst under the heading of "Here's one we prepared earlier!" the 410 Sqn 'Cougars' set a very high standard..the question is can the 391^st FS top this in 2005? © Kevin Jackson/Peter Greengrass

“ We’ve got Tigers, Cougars, and Lynxes here. We invited some Panthers but they couldn’t make it.”
TMOTA organizer

Top: 439 CSS decorated their 'borrowed' CH-146..hope they got it cleaned up before the owners returned!!
© Peter Greengrass
Bottom: "Roose" from the 391^st Fighter Squadron receives the 2003 TMOTA trophy from 4 Wing Commander Col. Sullivan and 410TF(OT)S boss LCol. Anderson (far left).
© Kevin Jackson

“ I’m going to tell my CO, next time I want four jets including one in special paint. Either we come to win this thing or we don’t come at all! ”
CMSgt Jim Desranleau, Vermont Catamounts

“ I’d never been to a Tiger Meet before, I’d never even heard of a Tiger Meet. The Squadron asked me if I wanted to be the project officer and I said ‘Yeah, sure’. You know, it can’t be that difficult, it’s not going to that big? Boy was I wrong!”
Capt. James ‘Buca’ Kettles, 410 TF(OT)S

“ We are kind of like a father figure for this event. Our squadron has always been the Tigers. We take a lot of pride in bringing the spirit of the Tiger to these things, since we have all the heritage.”
‘ Otto’, 141^st ARS boom operator

“ Every run you guys score is one K less gas you’re getting! ” Pitcher from NJ-ANG, as his softball team was losing to CO-ANG.

“ This is my seventh Tiger Meet. I haven’t seen a lot of differences from the European NTMs, they are structured similarly, the emphasis is on flying and on camaraderie. Things that foster esprit de corps in your own unit and camaraderie with fellow Tigers.” ‘Max’, a navigator with the 141^st ARS ‘Tanking Tigers’

Thanks & Acknowledgements

Sharpshooter would like to thank the following for their cooperation, hospitality and friendship during the Tiger Meet: Capt. James 'Buca' Kettles and all the Cold Lake folks who made the TMOTA happen, Kirk Webber, Capt. Richard Langlois (4Wing PAffO), SRA Carolyn Frankovich (120th PA), Mark Munzel, Gert Weckx and all the TMOTA teams, in particular Lobo, Hak and Max for the interviews.

NOTE: A version of this article was published in ‘Combat Aircraft’ magazine, issue 5.4

Following the three LFE exercise days, Thursday 18^th was set aside for concluding the Tiger Games and an evening BBQ with Buffalo on the menu then final wrap-up speeches and prize giving.

Tiger Tails – The 120^th FS Cougars Tiger car had a perfect scale replica of an F-16 tail, complete with working rudder and strobe light! Taking a well earned rest, is Sharpshooters own Tiger mascot..who is at this moment on TDY with the CO ANG!! © Kevin Jackson

A Viper driver gives us the customary 79^th Fighter Squadron 'Tigers Claw' signal as he joins a gaggle of 4Wing Hornets on the final mission of the 2003 Tiger Meet Of The Americas.