Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
In December 1940, a site board determined that Flexible Gunnery School No. 9 would be located 12 miles southeast of Panama City, Florida on East Peninsula. On May 6, 1941, Army and local dignitaries held an official ground breaking for the school. Panama City's mayor, Harry Fannin, dug the first spade full of sand, and Colonel Warren Maxwell, Tyndall's first commander, wielded the first ax on the stubborn palmetto plants, so common on the East Peninsula. The site was covered with pine and palmetto trees, scrub brush, and swamps. Bulldozers worked around the clock to clear the brush and fill in swamps.
Although construction was well underway, the base lacked a name. Congressman Bob Sikes suggested naming the school in memory of Lieutenant Francis B. Tyndall. A native of Sewall Point, Florida. Lieutenant Tyndall was a fighter pilot during World War I and was credited with shooting down four German planes well behind enemy lines in 1918. While inspecting Army fields near Mooresville, North Carolina on July 15, 1930, Tyndall's plane crashed, killing him instantly. On June 13, 1941, the War Department officially named the new installation Tyndall Field.
On December 7, 1941, the first of 2,000 troops arrived at Tyndall Field. Although construction was incomplete, instructors and students began preparing for the first class. The first class of 40 gunnery students began on February 23, 1942. Of the thousands of students passing through the Tyndall gates, the most famous was actor Clark Gable, a student here during 1943.
One common thread between those early years and today's training at Tyndall is foreign student training. It began at Tyndall in 1943 with French Air Force gunnery students being the first and Chinese students following that year. The last class of foreign students entered training in 1946. They were Chinese Nationals. Today, foreign students attend weapons controller training at Tyndall.
When World War II ended, Tyndall went through the demobilization process, as did most Army Air units. Fortunes changed as the base fell under the control of the Tactical Air Command in 1946. This only lasted three months. Then Tyndall became part of Air University.
In September of 1950, Tyndall became an Air Training Command base. Several schools were assigned, including Weapons Controllers, USAF Air Police, and USAF Instrument Instructor Pilot. Then on January 4, 1951, ATC began aircrew (interceptor) training at Tyndall using F-86, F-89, and F-94 aircraft. This relationship lasted until July 1, 1957, when Tyndall became part of the Air Defense Command, an association that would continue for more than 22 years.
Tyndall began hosting William Tell in 1958, just one year after becoming an Air Defense Command unit. William Tell is the nickname for the USAF Air-to-Air Weapons Meet held bi-annually. Tyndall still hosts the competition, but under the sponsorship of Air Combat Command and with competition from all over the world.
Tyndall's second association with the Tactical Air Command began on October 1, 1979. Over the next few years, modernization, upgrade, and reorganization became the key words around Tyndall. A major reorganization occurred on July 1, 1981, with the activation of the 325th Fighter Weapons Wing. The wing began its mission at Tyndall with the F-101, F-106, and T-33 aircraft, while at the same time phasing out the F-101 and F-106 and preparing for the arrival of Tyndall's first F-15 aircraft in 1983.
Over the years, Tyndall gained additional missions as other units were stationed on the base. The Air Force Engineering and Services Center was formed at Tyndall as a part of a major reorganization. In 1991, it was renamed the Air Force Civil Engineering Agency. The 23rd Air Division, renamed the Southeast Air Defense Sector, also relocated to Tyndall. It had the responsibility for the air defense of the southeastern United States.
As the base entered its fiftieth year, Tyndall underwent reorganization in response to the DOD effort to streamline defense management. Headquarters, First Air Force moved from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to Tyndall, and the 325th Fighter Wing became the installation host.
Transition continued for the base as it transferred from being an Air Combat Command installation to an Air Education and Training Command installation on July 1, 1993. This move emphasized Tyndall's commitment to training. The 325th Fighter Wing remains the sole F-15 air superiority and air battle manager training wing in the United States Air Force.
Things remained calm at Tyndall through the next 9 years. Tyndall saw the dusk of one century and the dawning of a new century as the base moved into the 21st century. The 21st century proved to be momentous for Tyndall AFB. The base was selected as the first home of the Air Force's newest aircraft, the F-22 "Raptor." 2002 brought more change as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force changed the organizational structure of the 325th Fighter Wing, from an objective type wing to a combat organization. This organization moved all maintenance activities under the 325th Maintenance Group and all support activities under the 325th Mission Support Group.
Today, "Team Tyndall" stands committed to defend the interests of the United States through training, detection, and deterrence.
More Tyndall AFB and 325th FW history:
325th Fighter Wing history
Tyndall AFB and 325th Fighter Wing chronology
Tyndall AFB installation commanders
325th Fighter Wing commanders
More historical links:
Air Force history
Air Force Historical Research Agency
Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute
Library of Congress
Military Personnel Records Center
National Archives
National Museum of the United States Air Force
325th Fighter Group World War II Association