FORTIS B-42 Black Bat Squadron Limited Edition Pilot Professional Chronograph

Fortis Limited Edition Squadron Watches: They aren’t something you buy, but something you earn.

FORTIS means Strong in Latin and has come to represent strength in the watch world as well. Ever since the company was founded in 1912, the Fortis name has become synonymous with the kind of toughness that the world’s military forces depend on. That’s why generations of rugged and durable Fortis pilot and military instrument watches have long been a favorite in military circles. 

Fortis chronographs have a reputation for precision and accuracy that has been confirmed by an elite group of aeronautical squadrons from around the world. These fighting forces have chosen Fortis as their official timepiece for professional duty. For many years Fortis watches have been issued to Russian Cosmonauts, Russian MiG Pilots and Swiss Air Force pilots.

As the reputation of Fortis watches grew in military circles, the company established a special division to equip international military squadrons with exclusive limited edition squadron watches emblazoned with the squadron’s own insignia on the dial. The pilots and crew of several famous international squadrons, from famous aerobatic teams to renowned combat squadrons, now wear these exclusive watches.

The famous Fighting Falcons, who fly the F16A, are currently equipped with a special squadron edition of the Fortis Flieger Chronograph featuring the Fighting Falcons insignia. The German “72 Westfalen” fighter squadron, flying F-4F Phantom jets are also equipped with Fortis Squadron watches featuring their squadron insignia. The exclusivity of a Fortis Squadron Watch makes it one of the world’s most desirable watches. If you are lucky enough to obtain one of these exclusive timepieces, you probably got it from a pilot or crew member wearing the same insignia as is on the watch. 

Fortis Squadron Watches are worn by the Hungarian Air Force, the Greek “Hellenistic Tigers”, the Taiwanese “Thunder Tigers” Aerobatic Team, and the German Air Force Reconnaissance Unit. The Fortis Squadron Program is open to all squadrons and active duty fighting forces from around the world.

The “First Squadron,” based at Germany’s historic Lechfeld Airbase, is an integral part of the Luftwaffe’s Fighter Bomber Wing 32. Better known as 321 Squadron, the Lechfeld Tigers began service in 1958 and became one of the first German Squadrons assigned to NATO in 1959. From 1965 through 1984, these celebrated airmen flew the legendary F-104 Starfighter.

In 1991, the 321 Squadron became the first operational unit to be equipped with the new ECR Tornado fighter. Flying these sophisticated Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance aircraft, the 321 Lechfeld Tigers became the first German squadron to fly in combat since World War II when they were deployed over Kosovo to protect other NATO aircraft from Serbian surface to air missiles. While the squadron was on patrol, not a single allied aircraft was hit by a Serbian SAM missile.

With this illustrious history, it was only natural that the 321 Lechfeld Tigers would want an equally illustrious squadron watch. Beginning in 2002, the squadron began looking for a suitable watch. The search was not easy because pilots and squadron members had different ideas about what they required and what they were willing to pay. Nobody was satisfied with the squadron’s initial watch choice, and in 2006, they turned to Fortis for a solution.

To meet the squadron’s needs, Fortis produced special limited edition squadron versions of the B-42 Pilot Professional and the B-42 Official Cosmonaut. Each of these exclusive watches features a custom dial emblazoned with the distinctive 321 Lechfeld Tigers insignia at the 9 o’clock position along with the squadron’s name above the lower sub-dial.

Each watch can be equipped with a leather, stainless steel or caoutchouc strap, depending on the individual airman’s personal choice. Even though these watches are extremely collectable, most members of the squadron aren’t worried about scratches and dings and wear their squadron watch proudly during daily flight duty.

The Fortis Squadron Program is open to all squadrons and active duty fighting forces from around the world. If you would like to have your own pilots and crew wear your squadron insignia with pride, Fortis will make a watch just for you.

In 1952, Western Enterprise Inc., a covert station of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), located in Taiwan, collaborated with the ROCAF to set up a “special operations squadron (China Taskforce)” in Taoyuan AFB in order to conduct airdropping and psychological operations in Mainland China. The squadron was relocated to Hsinchu AFB in 1953, and kicked off electronic intelligence (ELINT) missions over the Mainland from May 1956. Starting from January 1958, the squadron was officially named as “the 34^th Squadron,” and had adopted a “marking of flying black bat” in the year. Consequently the 34^th Squadron became known as the “Black Bat Squadron.”

Spanning from 1952 to 1972 during the time of its special ops, the Black Bat Squadron (including its former body) had lost 15 aircraft and 148 lives, and is deemed as a special ops unit in the ROCAF that suffered the highest operational attrition rate. 

This Rare Fortis Black Bat Squadron is for them!