Tampa Goes to War

Colonel Clarence L. Tinker took command as MacDill's first base commander on March 11, 1940. He became the first Native American to attain the rank of Major General and was killed in action in the Pacific Theater during the Battle for Midway in 1942. Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Tinker Elementary School in Tampa, Florida, were named in his honor. Before he piloted the historic mission over Hiroshima, Colonel Paul Tibbets was commander of the 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group at MacDill. In 1959, Tibbets returned to MacDill as commander of the 6th Air Division and was soon promoted to Brigadier General. By 1945, more than 3000 African-American soldiers were based at MacDill Field.

Tampa, Florida · United States