Air Force Bases

TYNDALL AFB AND 325TH FW CHRONOLOGY

21 Dec 40

 

The exact location of Tyndall, its present site, was decided. Originally, the board planned to purchase only a small area, but Brigadier General Walter R. Weaver, commander of the Southeast Air Corps Training Center at Maxwell Field Alabama, insisted the War Department purchase the entire peninsula, all 28,517 acres.

6 May 41

 

Panama City Mayor H.G. Fannin and Col Warren Maxwell, TyndallÕs first commander, led the official ground breaking ceremony.

13 Jun 41

 

The War Department officially approved the name Tyndall Field, submitted by Congressman Bob Sikes, 3rd Congressional District of Florida, in memory of Lieutenant Francis B. Tyndall, World War I hero, and a native of Sewall Point, Florida.

7 Dec 41

 

As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor; Tyndall Field officially opened its gates for incoming military personnel.

3 Aug 42

 

The War Department activated the 325th Fighter Group at Mitchell Field, New York. The group trained with P-40 aircraft.

6 Jan 43

 

Lieutenant Clark Gable, a Hollywood actor, and the rest of Class 43-1 received their prized silver wings for graduating from TyndallÕs flexible gunnery training.

17 Apr 43

 

The 325th Fighter Group entered combat with Twelfth Air Force in North Africa. Flight Officer Howard T. Cook, 318th Fighter Squadron, made the 325th Fighter Group's first kill.

3 Jun 43

 

The first WomenÕsÕ Army Auxiliary Corps members arrived at Tyndall to fill non-combat positions.

30 Jul 43

 

The 325th Fighter Group received its first Distin­guished Unit Citation for action over Sardinia.

Sep-Dec 43

 

The 325th Fighter Group trained on P-47s and moved to Italy.

31 Dec 43

 

In 1943 alone, Tyndall FieldÕs gunnery training expended 56,490,012 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition and 12,433,551 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition.

30 Jan 44

 

The 325th Fighter Group won its second Distin­guished Unit Citation for its surprise attack on the German airdromes near Villaorba, Italy.

May 1944

 

The 325th Fighter Group exchanged its P‑47 aircraft for the P‑51.

28 Oct 45

 

The Army Air Forces inactivated the 325th Fighter Group.

21 May 47

 

The 325th Fighter Group reactivated and organized as an all-weather fighter group.

18 Sep 47

 

Under the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947, the Army Air Forces became a separate service, the United States Air Force.

13 Jan 48

 

Tyndall Field became Tyndall Air Force Base.

10 May 48

 

The 325th Fighter Wing, All Weather, was established.

9 Jun 48

 

The Air Force activated the 325th Fighter Wing, All Weather, at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. Assigned to it was the 325th Fighter Group (All Weather).

20 Jan 50

 

The Air Force redesignated the 325th Fighter Wing, All Weather as the 325th Fighter-All Weather Wing.

4 Sep 50

 

The fighting in Korea brought new demands for trained military personnel and an urgent appeal for security police. Air Training Command established the USAF Air Police School at Tyndall.

1 May 51

 

The 325th Fighter-All Weather Wing was redesignated as the 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing.

6 Feb 52

 

The Air Force inactivated the 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing and its subordinate units while it was stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.

14 Sep 56

 

The wing was redesignated the 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense).

18 Oct 56

 

The 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) was reactivated at              McChord AFB, Washington. Assigned to the wing was the 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense).

20 Oct 58

 

The availability of operational drone and tow targets at Tyndall allowed the base to host its first William Tell competition. Tyndall has hosted the competition ever since.

26 Oct 59

 

Tyndall Air Force Base received its first F-106 aircraft.

25 Mar 60

 

The Air Force inactivated the 325th Fighter Group.

13 Jul 65

 

The new 2,900-foot Dupont Bridge was completed, allowing for the removal of the old, narrow, cantilever type, swing bridge. This bridge is the main link from Panama City to Tyndall Air Force Base.

9 Feb 68

 

The 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) sent a large detachment to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, to provide air defense against the communist north.

1 Jul 68

 

The Air Force inactivated the 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense).

6 Oct 72

 

Tyndall AFB picked up alert commitments and an alert flight. This

flight trained to intercept unidentified targets over the Gulf of Mexico

with their F-106 Delta Dart aircraft.

1 Jul 81

 

The Air Force activated the 325th Fighter Weapons Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and assigned it to the USAF Air Defense Weapons Center. The tactical units assigned to the 325th included the 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 2nd Fighter Weapons Squadron, 82nd Tactical Aerial Target Squadron and the 95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron.

1 Oct 82

 

The 325th Fighter Weapons Wing transferred its last F-101 to Eglin AFB, Florida, completing the phase out of the F‑101 from the active USAF inventory.

15 Oct 83

 

The USAF Air Defense Weapons Center underwent reorganization. The wing was redesignated as the 325th Tactical Training Wing, and the 2nd Fighter Weapons Squadron became the 2nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

7 Dec 83

 

Brigadier General Charles A. Horner, the USAF Air Defense Weapons Center commander, flew in the 325th Tactical Training WingÕs first F-15 Eagle.

6 Apr 84

 

Lieutenant Colonel James T. Talley, 2nd Fighter Weapons Squad­ron commander, flew the last F-106 assigned to the 325th Tactical Training Wing to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center.

30 Aug 84

 

The 325th Tactical Training WingÕs first F-15 class began with six students.

20 Jan 85

 

The 325th Maintenance Training Squadron became Tactical Air CommandÕs F-15 centralized maintenance training office.

25 Nov 85

 

The 325th Tactical Training Wing conducted its first Combat Archer activity as a Weapons System Evaluation Program unit.

1 Mar 88

 

The 325th Tactical Training Wing assumed the alert duties from

Detachment 1, 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.

 

1 Apr 88

 

The 95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron was redesignated the 95th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

6 Apr 88

 

The 325th Tactical Training Wing intercepted a Soviet TU-142 Bear F on an antisubmarine patrol in the Gulf of Mexico.

6 Jul 88

 

The 325th Tactical Training WingÕs last T-33 was transferred to the

Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center.

Apr 89

 

The 325th Tactical Training Wing received its first "outstanding" rating on a Tactical Air Command air defense exercise.

1 Sep 91

 

The objective wing reorganization of the 325th Tactical Training Wing began as the 325th Operations and 325th Logistics Groups, and the 325th Maintenance, 325th Logistics Support, 325th Contracting, and 325th Operations Support Squadrons were activated and assigned to the wing. The 325th Supply and 325th Transportation Squadrons moved to the 325th Logistics Group. At the same time, the 325th Component Repair and 325th Aircraft Generation Squadrons were inactivated.

4-6 Sep 91 

 

The safety, judge advocate, and historian functions, along with the 325th Comptroller Squadron, moved from the USAF Air Defense Weapons Center to the 325th Tactical Training Wing.

5 Sep 91

 

The 325th Communications Squadron realigned under the 325th Support Group.

9 Sep 91

 

The 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit moved from the 325th Aircraft Generation Squadron to the 1st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

12 Sep 91

 

The USAF Air Defense Weapons Center was inactivated. First Air Force held a change of command and was officially relocated from Langley AFB, Virginia, to Tyndall AFB, Florida. 

16 Sep 91

 

The 2d Aircraft Maintenance Unit moved from the 325 Aircraft

Generation Squadron to the 2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

 

23 Sep 91

 

The 95th Aircraft Maintenance Unit moved from the 325th Aircraft Generation Squadron to the 95th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

30 Sep 91

 

The 325th Weapons Controller Training Squadron was inactivated

and its mission was given to the 3625th Technical Training Squadron

(Air Training Command), also at Tyndall.

1 Oct 91

 

325th Tactical Training Wing was redesignated as the 325th Fighter Wing. The wing's operational squadrons were redesignated as fighter squadrons.

1 Jun 92

 

HQ USAF inactivated Tactical Air Command. The wing transferred from Tactical Air Command to the newly created Air Combat Command. The 325th Fighter Wing assumed host installation responsibilities at Tyndall.

12 Dec 92

 

The 325th Medical Group deployed its air transportable hospital, along with 93 personnel, to Africa to assist in US efforts to provide food and humanitarian relief to the famine stricken country of Somalia.

1 Jul 93

 

The Air Force transferred the 325th Fighter Wing from Air Combat Command to the Air Education and Training Command. On the same date, the Air Force redesignated Air Training Command as Air Education and Training Command. The 325th was further assigned to Nineteenth Air Force.

31 Aug 93

 

The Federal Bureau of Prisons closed its minimum security prison camp at Tyndall AFB.

1 Jan 94

 

The Air Force redesignated the 325th Morale, Welfare, Recreation and Services Squadron as the 325th Services Squadron.

1 Apr 94

 

The 325th Fighter Wing received control of the 337th Technical Training Squadron from the 81st Technical Training Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The 337th was the Air ForceÕs sole source for air weapons controllers.

1 Sep 94

 

The Air Force inactived the 337th Training Squadron. The air weapons controller training program was absorbed into the 325th Training Squadron.

30 Sep 94

 

The Air Force activated four new squadrons, the 325th Aerospace Medicine, 325th Dental, 325th Medical Operations Support and the 325th Medical Operations Squadrons and assigned them to the 325th Medical Group.

1 Oct 94

 

The Air Force transferred control of the Social Action Substance Abuse Control Program from the wing staff to the 325th Medical Group.

7 Nov 94

 

The Air Force presented the city of Callaway, Florida with an F-15A Eagle aircraft, tail number 77-0146. The aircraft had been assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron. Tyndall personnel pulled the aircraft across the DuPont Bridge shortly after midnight and transferred the aircraft to the Callaway officials at the west end of the bridge. The aircraft was the center piece of CallawayÕs new Veterans Park.

2 Dec 94

 

General Clinton Van Horn, 325th Fighter Wing Commander, received congressional notification and approval to conduct the A-76 Cost Comparison study. The study looked at approximately 1,300 jobs at Tyndall to determine whether it would be more cost effective for civil service or civilian contracted employees.

13 Mar 95

 

The USAF announced that the 325th Fighter Wing won the highest honor a maintenance unit can receive, the 1994 Daedalian Maintenance Award. This award is presented to the unit which provided the best overall support for the flying mission, the most effective use of its management techniques, and unit self-sufficiency.

5 Oct 95

 

With winds of 135 mph, Hurricane Opal slammed into FloridaÕs panhandle. Colonel John H. Campbell, 325th Fighter Wing Commander, ordered an entire evacuation of the base on 3 October. Opal caused $5.5 million worth of damage to Tyndall AFB.

22 Dec 95

 

The 325th Logistics Group and the 362nd Technical Training Squadron Operating Location graduated the first class of F-15 mission ready crew chiefs at Tyndall.

24 Feb 96

 

Two civilian aircraft off the southernmost coast of Florida were shot down by Cuban MiG-29s in international waters. At 5:00 p.m. local, two F-16s from the Air National GuardÕs Detachment 1, 148th Fighter Wing were scrambled and deployed from Tyndall to Homestead AFB. This was to support the US Coast Guard in its search and recovery efforts for the aircrews of the aircraft. Two additional F-16s deployed after extensive weapons reconfiguration by 325th Fighter Wing munitions personnel. The 325th Fighter Wing and the detachment worked together to provide outstanding support during Operation Standoff IV.

8 May 96

 

U.S. Air Force officials at the Pentagon announced that Tyndall would be the base for the advanced F/A-22 air superiority fighter. The F/A-22 was projected to be the Air ForceÕs next generation fighter jet. This aircraft incorporated stealth, supercruise, and advanced avionics. Air Force officials expected the jet to dominate the arena of aerial combat and replace the aging F-15 fleet.

11 Oct 96

 

The USAF Southeast Defense Sector passed transfer to the Air National Guard in a ceremony. The Florida Air National Guard assumed full control of the organization and would have it fully manned by guard personnel within one year.

1 Apr 97

 

The Air Force announced that Lockheed Martin, Trend Western, and Del-Jen, three private contractors, would assume responsibility for back shop maintenance, supply, transportation, and civil engineering operations at Tyndall.

1 Sep 97

 

The A-76 implementation transition period began at Tyndall AFB.

30 Sep 97

 

At the conclusion of Fiscal Year 1997, Tyndall AFB employed 6,743 military and civilian personnel, with an annual payroll of $202,543,223. The wingÕs annual budget for Fiscal Year 1997 was $125,056,400.

31 Dec 97

 

This was the final day of the A-76 transition period. A total of 1,034 military and civilian positions were deleted as a result of the study, as contractors took full responsibility for the function of those positions on 1 January 1998.

Jul 1998

 

Chief Master Sergeant Johnnie Davis became the wingÕs Senior Enlisted Advisor, replacing Chief Master Sergeant Charles Shorette, who was assigned as 14th Air Force Senior Enlisted Advisor.

15 Aug 98

 

A Memorial Service was held at the Base Theater for Senior Master Sergeant Sherry Lynn Olds, a Panama City native and former member of the 325th Fighter Wing, who was killed in a terrorist attack on the American Embassy in Kenya.

2 Sep 98

 

325th Fighter Wing aircraft, along with other aircraft from Tyndall evacuated the base as Hurricane Earl approached the Gulf Coast.

3 Sep 98

 

A weakened Hurricane Earl came ashore, causing minimal damage to Tyndall and the surrounding area.

24 Sep 98

 

Tyndall aircraft were again evacuated as Hurricane Georges approached the Gulf Coast.

20 Dec 98

 

Brigadier General Walter E. Buchanan III, assumed command of the

325th Fighter Wing.

19 Aug 00

 

Brigadier General William F. Hodgkins assumed command of the

325th Fighter Wing.

16-19 Oct 00

 

A Site Activation Task Force convened at Tyndall AFB to map out the

F/A-22 transition process and identify key issues regarding the

transition.

11 Sep 01

 

As terrorists attacked on US soil, the 325th Fighter Wing provided

maximum security on Tyndall AFB, allowing the WingÕs mission to

continue and also providing a safe environment for First Air Force

CONR to provide air sovereignty over the United States. The Wing also

conducted Combat Air Patrols over key US cities in support of the

CONR mission.

16 Aug 02

 

The Wing reorganized to the Chief of StaffÕs Combat Wing structure,

which consisted of a Medical Group, Operations Group, Maintenance

Group, and Mission Support Group.

25 Oct 02

 

The Air Force activated the 43rd Fighter Squadron as the first flying unit in the Air Force to fly the new F/A-22 Raptor.

26 Sep 03

 

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery Harrigian delivered F/A-22 Raptor 18 from the factory in Marietta, GA, to Tyndall AFB.

27 Jul 04

 

Brigadier General Larry D. New relinquished command of the 325th Fighter Wing to Brigadier General Jack B. Egginton. General New left Tyndall for an assignment with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. General Egginton came to Tyndall from his previous assignment as Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

22 Apr 05

 

Brigadier General Jack B. Egginton delivered the 43rd Fighter Squadrons 23rd and final F/A-22 from the factory to Tyndall.

13 Dec 05

 

The U.S. Air Force changed the designation of the F/A-22 to the F-22A. Previously the F/A designation denoted the aircrafts ability to provide close air support and drop bombs. Now the "A" designates the variant of the aircraft.