Tampa Goes to War
U.S. Enters WWII and MacDill Readies the Air Attack
MacDill's First Base Commander
• Col. Clarence L. Tinker took command on March 11, 1940
• First Native American to attain the rank of Major General
• Killed in action in Pacific Theater during Battle for Midway in 1942
• Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, OK and Tinker Elementary School in Tampa, FL are named in his honor
Before he piloted the historic mission over Hiroshima, Col. Paul Tibbets was Commander of the 340th Bomb Squadron - 97th Bombardment Group at MacDill.
In 1959, Col. Tibbets returned to MacDill as Commander of the 6th Air Division and was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
By 1945, over 3000 African-American soldiers were based at MacDill Field.
(Photos of "The Legendary Memphis Belle B-17 at MacDill Field", a Combat Pilot, a MacDill Field ID Card, pilots "Taking a Break", a B-26 Squadron Leather Patch, and Members of the Drum & Bugle Corp of the 810th Engineer Battalion)
Marker is on North Ashley Drive north of East Whiting Street, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
