Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Near Panama City, Florida in the United States of America | |||||||||
Coordinates | 30°04′43″N 085°34′35″W / 30.07861°N 85.57639°W | ||||||||
Type | US Air Force Base | ||||||||
Site information | |||||||||
Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||||
Operator | US Air Force | ||||||||
Controlled by | Air Combat Command (ACC) | ||||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||||
Website | www.tyndall.af.mil | ||||||||
Site history | |||||||||
Built | 1941 | (As Tyndall Field)||||||||
In use | 1941–present | ||||||||
Garrison information | |||||||||
Current commander | Colonel George Watkins | ||||||||
Garrison | |||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||
Identifiers | AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located 12 miles (19 km) east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) of the Air Combat Command (ACC). The base hosts 2,902 active duty members.[2] In October 2018, Hurricane Michael caused significant damage to the base.[3]
History
Tyndall Field first opened its doors on December 7, 1941 as a gunnery range.[4] The airfield was named in honor of 1st Lt Frank Benjamin Tyndall (1894–1930).[5] With the establishment of the United States Air Force in 1947, the facility was renamed "Tyndall Air Force Base" on 13 January 1948. In December 1940, a site board determined that Flexible Gunnery School No. 9 would be located 12 miles (19 km) southeast of
Although construction was well underway, the base lacked a name. Congressman
On 7 December 1941, the first of 2,000 troops arrived at Tyndall Field. The first class of gunnery students began in February 1942. Although construction was incomplete, instructors and students began preparing for the first class. The first class of 40 gunnery students began on 23 February 1942. Of the thousands of students passing through the Tyndall gates, the most famous was actor
Cold War
When World War II ended, Tyndall Field was demobilized. The base fell under the control of the Tactical Air Command (TAC) in 1946, but this only lasted three months, as Tyndall became part of the Air University (AU). Tyndall Field was subsequently renamed as Tyndall Air Force Base when the U.S. Air Force (USAF) became a separate service in 1947.[6]
In September 1950, Tyndall became an
In September 1957, Tyndall became an Air Defense Command, later
Fighter-Interceptor base
In the late 1950s into the 1960s, the base transitioned into the
Radar station 1956–present
On 1 July 1956 Tyndall AFB became the station operating for the third phase of the ADC mobile radar program, designated as TM-198. Activated by the 678th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Tyndall became operational to support the
In 1962 the search radar was upgraded and re-designated as an
It also received a Back-Up Interceptor Control (BUIC) II, and later BUIC III, capability to perform command and control functions. Tyndall retained this function until the 1980s. On 1 March 1970, the 678th was redesignated as the 678th Air Defense Group.
In addition to the main facility, Tyndall operated two
- Carrabelle, FL (TM-198A): 29°51′57″N 084°37′53″W / 29.86583°N 84.63139°W
- Eglin AFB, FL (TM-198B): 30°33′14″N 086°45′36″W / 30.55389°N 86.76000°W
On 1 October 1979, this site came under
The height-finder radar, modified as an
Reorganization, 1991–2018
In 1991, Tyndall underwent a reorganization in response to the
The 21st century proved to be momentous for Tyndall AFB, because it was selected as the first home of the Air Force's newest aircraft, the
Today, Tyndall is the home of the 325th Fighter Wing, providing training for all F-22A Raptor pilots. In 2012, with the gaining of a combat-coded F-22 squadron, Tyndall AFB returned to Air Combat Command, after a 19-year tenure in AETC.[6]
Hurricane Michael, 2018
On 10 October 2018
In April 2019, the Air Force estimated the hurricane damage to the base at $4.7 billion.[26]
In April 2022, Detachment 1 of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron inactivated at Tyndall and was replaced by the 801st Red Horse Training Squadron. The unit's role is to provide integrated, realistic training and exercises to combat support teams.[27]
Environmental issues
The soil of an aerial gunnery school training range on Tyndall was contaminated with lead from 12-gauge shotgun shells during World War II. Tyndall Elementary was constructed on the former site of this training range; In 2009 a $5.5 million remediation of the soil at the school was completed and a perimeter fence put up, including a "buffer zone" outside the fence. When the hurricane destroyed the fence in October 2018, contractors erected a temporary replacement slightly offset which included some sections contaminated with lead to be located within the campus. As of August 2019, a new perimeter fence was planned to be erected until 12 August 2019 and School district officials were planning to contact families of the 180 affected students.[28]
Organization, 1941–present
Major units assigned, 1941–present
|
|
References for history, major commands and major units[33][34][35]
Major commands to which assigned, 1941–present
- Southeast Air Corps Training Center, 16 June 1941
- USAAC Flexible Gunnery School, March 1941
- Air Corps Flying Training Command, 23 January 1942
- Redesignated Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, 15 March 1942
- Redesignated AAF Training Comd, 31 July 1943
- Continental Air Forces, 28 February 1946
- Tactical Air Command, 21 March 1946
- Air University, 15 May 1946
- Air Training Command, 1 September 1950
- Air Defense Command, 1 July 1957
- Redesignated Aerospace Defense Command, 15 January 1968
- Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979 – 1 June 1992
- Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993
- Air Education and Training Command, 1 July 1993 – 30 September 2012
- Air Combat Command, 1 October 2012–present
Role and operations
325th Fighter Wing
The
From 1983 until 2010, training for F-15 Eagle pilots was performed at Tyndall AFB by the 1st, 2d, and 95th Fighter Squadrons in the F-15A, F-15B, F-15C and F-15D aircraft. The 1 FS inactivated in 2006, while the 2 FS and 95 FS inactivated in May and September 2010, respectively. During this time, Tyndall also hosted training for F-15C/D maintenance personnel and intelligence officers assigned to F-15C/D units. The 95 FS was reactivated in September 2013 as part of the F-22 Raptor consolidation plan that moved the 7th Fighter Squadron's aircraft to Tyndall. The 2nd Fighter Training Squadron was activated in 2014 to perform T-38 adversary operations in support of the F-22 training mission.
The 325th Fighter Wing is host to more than 30 tenant organizations located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The wing consists of the 325th Operations Group, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Mission Support Group and 325th Medical Group. It is also augmented by two Air Reserve Component (ARC) units from the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG), respectively.
Detachment 1 of Headquarters, Florida Air National Guard (FL ANG) provides instructor pilot augmentation to the 325 FW, training active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel to fly and fight F-22A Raptor aircraft. [36][37]
44th Fighter Group (44 FG)
The
First Air Force (1 AF)
Headquarters,
1 AF primarily consists of
53d Weapons Evaluation Group
The
Other organizations
125th Student Flight, Florida Air National Guard
The 125th Student Flight is a training unit based out of Jacksonville, Florida. Established in 2018, the Tyndall AFB detachment of the 125th serves as a holding unit for Florida Air National Guard trainees. Once enlisted, Air Guardsmen awaiting basic training and tech school will be sent to the Student Flight detachment nearest to their home. The Tyndall detachment is located on a separate compound within the main air base, where instructors teach recruits basic skills and knowledge regarding the Air Force and the Florida Air National Guard.
337th Air Control Squadron
The
Air Force Civil Engineer Center
Prior to October 2012, Tyndall AFB was home to the
Air Force Research Laboratory
The
Based units
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Tyndall Air Force Base.[45]
Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Tyndall are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.
United States Air Force
Air Combat Command (ACC)
|
Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
Air National Guard (ANG)
|
Geography and demographics
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km2). 14.5 square miles (37.5 km2) of it is land, and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (0.44%) is water.[46]
Demographics
This section needs to be updated.(August 2019) |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | 4,248 | — | |
1980 | 4,542 | 6.9% | |
1990 | 4,318 | −4.9% | |
2000 | 2,757 | −36.2% | |
2010 | 2,994 | 8.6% | |
source:[47][48] |
The base is delineated as a
There were 663 households, out of which 81.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 90.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 1.4% were non-families. 1.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57 and the average family size was 3.59.
On the base the population was spread out, with 37.9% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 42.4% from 25 to 44, 2.1% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.7 males.
The median income for a household in the base was $34,191, and the median income for a family was $33,897. Males had a median income of $25,857 versus $19,821 for females. The per capita income for the base was $11,281. About 3.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Accidents and incidents
- On 25 February 2021, a Mirage F-1B fighter jet of Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) crashed at the base after sliding off one of the base's runways. Both pilots were taken to a Panama City hospital with non-life threatening injuries.[50]
See also
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- 75th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
Other U.S. Air Force bases significantly damaged by natural disasters:
- Clark Air Base – extensive damage by lahars during eruption of Mount Pinatubo (1991)
- Homestead Air Force Base – significantly damaged by Hurricane Andrew (1992), a Category 5 at landfall
- Shaw Air Force Base – significantly damaged by Hurricane Hugo (1989), during which it recorded a 109 mph wind gust
- Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
Notes
- ^ The report contains a note that "anemometer height is 10 meters and wind averaging is 2 minutes". The sustained wind speeds in tropical cyclones are usually measured by 1-minute average wind speed at a height of 10 meters (33 ft) above the ground by the National Hurricane Center, while other parts of the world use the average over a 10-minute period.
References
- ^ "Airport Diagram – Tyndall AFB (KPAM)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Tyndall AFB | Base Overview & Info | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS". installations.militaryonesource.mil. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "As climate change worsens, military eyes base of the future on Gulf Coast". Washington Post. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Roberts, Ted (9 December 2014). "Happy birthday, Tyndall!". www.tyndall.af.mil. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Tyndall". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 4 December 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Tyndall Heritage Factsheet". Tyndall Air Force Base. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ Mike Fender. "Who was Tyndall Air Force Base named after?" Panama City News Herald. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1)
- ^ USAFHRA Organizational Records Archived 23 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- ^ Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
- ^ "Hurricane Michael Hurricane Michael now making landfall". NASA SPoRT. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Category 4 Hurricane Michael makes landfall on Florida Panhandle". fox10TV.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Brown, Daniel (10 October 2018). "Hurricane Michael Intermediate Advisory Number 16A". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
A wind gust of 130 mph (210 mph [sic]) was recently reported at a University of Florida/Weatherflow observing site near Tyndall Air Force Base before the instrument failed.
- ^ "Post Tropical Cyclone Report... Hurricane Michael". National Weather Service. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "USAF Had Faulty Data About Whether Hangars Full of F-22s Could Survive Hurricane Michael". The Drive. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Calvert, Scott; Kamp, Jon (15 October 2018). "Air Force Surveys Damage at Florida Base After Hurricane Michael". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Bushatz, Amy (15 October 2018). "Tyndall Air Force Base Unlivable: How You Can Help".
- ^ Sisk, Richard (17 October 2018). "Many Families Will Never Return to Tyndall After Hurricane, Officials Say".
- ^ "'Widespread, Catastrophic Damage': Every Building at Tyndall AFB Totaled By Hurricane Michael". Fox News. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Morris, Amanda (20 October 2018). "'It Will Be Years' Before Life at Tyndall Air Force Base Returns To Normal". NPR.
- ^ a b Dave Philipps (11 October 2018). "Tyndall Air Force Base a 'Complete Loss' Amid Questions About Stealth Fighters". New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ Dave Philipps (17 October 2018). "Exposed by Michael: Climate Threat to Warplanes at Coastal Bases". New York Times. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ a b Gabriel, Melissa (17 October 2018). "Hurricane Michael: Fate of costly stealth fighter jets at Tyndall Air Force Base still unknown". Pensacola News Journal. USA Today. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Ockerman, Emma (16 October 2018). "The Air Force won't say how many F-22s it lost to Hurricane Michael". Vice News. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Heather (30 April 2019). "Congress must step up for Air Force bases devastated by natural disaster". Miami Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Del Oso, Airman 1st Class Tiffany (27 April 2022). "First Red Horse training squadron up, ready to run". US Air Force. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Offley, Ed (31 July 2019). "Tyndall Elementary has minimal soil contamination". Panama City News Herald.
- ^ "Units". www.125fw.ang.af.mil.
- ^ "101st Air and Space Operations Group stands up at Tyndall".
- ^ "823rd Red Horse Squadron/Detachment 1".
- ^ Pike, John. "Silver Flag". www.globalsecurity.org.
- ^ "Tyndall Air Force Base > Home". www.tyndall.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ "Units". www.tyndall.af.mil. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ISBN 0-16-002261-4
- ^ "Detachment 1, HQ FLANG". Fl.ng.mil. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ "Total Force for Team Tyndall > Tyndall Air Force Base > Display". www.tyndall.af.mil.
- ^ "301st Fighter Wing > Units > 44th Fighter Group". www.301fw.afrc.af.mil.
- ^ "Total Force effort enhances AFNORTH DSCA mission".
- ^ "CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) > Home". www.1af.acc.af.mil.
- ^ "53rd Weapons Evaluation Group".
- ^ "337th Air Control Squadron".
- ^ "AFCEC Home". www.afcec.af.mil.
- ^ "Air Force Research Laboratory".
- ^ "Units". Tyndall AFB. US Air Force. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Tyndall AFB CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Tyndall AFB CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
- ^ "Two Air Force pilots hospitalized after jet crash at Florida base". MSN.
General references
- Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. OCLC 57007862, 1050653629
External links
- Tyndall Air Force Base Homepage
- University of South Florida Libraries: Tyndall Target This weekly newsletter was published for personnel of the Army Air Force Flexible Gunnery School during World War II.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force