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192nci Filo Kudret ve Kabiliyetten mahrum olanlara iltifat olunmaz (Those who lack power and talent are not praised)
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Callsign : KAPLAN (Tiger) |
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Nato Tiger Association status : full member |
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192 Squadron was established in 1948 as the 102'nci Filo Bombardiman (Bomber Group) at Balikesir, Turkey, operating the P-47 Thunderbolt. They adopted the callsign ‘Kaplan’ (Tiger) in 1950. In 1952 the Squadron was renamed into ‘192’nci Filo’ (192nd Squadron) and received the Republic F-84G Thunderjet. Because of the callsign the Filo was given a crest showing a tiger and citing a phrase from Mustafa Kemal ATATURK (Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, author, and the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first president from 1923 until his death in 1938): ‘Kudret ve Kabiliyetten mahrum olanlara iltifat olunmaz’ (Those who lack power and talent are not praised). On later insignia this phrase was ommited. |
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Between 1952 and 1970 they fly the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, F-84FG Thunderjet and 1970-1974 the RF-84F Thunderflash, in attack and reconnaissance missions. After a modernization with the Northrop RF-5 Freedom Fighter the Filo was tasked with tactical reconnaissance. On 1975 they converted to the Lockheed F-104S and on 25 July were renamed ‘’193’nci Filo’. 1 July 1976 the Filo reacquired its old name ’192’nci Filo’. Provided with F-104Gs from Belgium in 1983 and from the Netherlands in 1984 they become one of the "All Weather" Squadrons assigned to NATO. Receiving Lockheed F-104G’s they get more responsibilities, and, between 1984 and 1988, they become one of the "All Weather" Intercept Squadrons assigned to NATO. |
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Within the scope of modernization in the 9th Main Jet Base Command, the last flight of the F-104G was on 15 March 1992. Following a reconversion to the Lockheef F-16 Fighting Falcon the Filo was reformed on 8 June 1993. 40 F-16 C/D arrived at Balikesir, and the air-to-ground attacks got added to their mission. Although the squadron is equipped with the advanced version of the F-16, the squadron did not incorporate the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) mission, but kept its main air defence mission. This was mainly because the Turkish Air Force lacked serious air defence assets of other fighters at the time the F-16 was put in service, so it was obliged to have some F-16 squadrons being used solely for air defence missions. Besides this task, they have a dedicated strike role. Nuclear weapons were previously located on base, but since 1996 the vaults have been placed in caretaker status and weapons were moved to Incirlik AB. |
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The 9. Ana Jet Üssü (9th Main Jet Base) was established in 1951 as Turkey's first jet base. It is located in the Altıeylül district of Balıkesir and is tasked with protecting the Western Black Sea, Thrace, Marmara and Aegean airspace. The 191st squadron, which was disbanded after the 15 July 2016 coup attemp, was reactivated in 2021. 192'nci Filo and 191'nci Filo have since then merged because of the pilot shortage in the TuAF. 192 Filo aircraft are operated by 191 Filo as a result. But they still participate in the annual Nato Tiger Meet as 192'nci Filo. |
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(all aircraft are to scale, not all drawings show an aircraft in 814 markings) |
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Aircraft
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
Republic F-84G Thunderjet
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
Lockheed F-104S Starfighter
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter
General Dynamics F-416 Fighting Falcon |
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| Insignia | |||
 192'nci Filo |
 192'nci Filo |
 192'nci Filo |
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 191'nci Filo |
 193'nci Filo |
 9. Ana Jet Üssü |
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text & picture sources : own collection & library + the world wide web / No copyright infringement intended : drawings, photos, etc. belong to the rightful owners. |
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