History of MacDill Air Force Base in Timeline

MacDill Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation located near Tampa, Florida. It serves as a vital military installation.

1920: Segregation Era Burial Site

Between 1840 and 1920, a segregation era burial site for Black families existed on the grounds of MacDill Air Force Base.

1938: Named in Honor of Colonel Leslie MacDill

In 1938, MacDill AFB was named in honor of Colonel Leslie MacDill (1889–1938).

1939: Establishment as Southeast Air Base, Tampa

In 1939, MacDill AFB was originally established as Southeast Air Base, Tampa.

September 1947: MacDill Field Becomes MacDill Air Force Base

In September 1947, with the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as an independent service, MacDill Field became MacDill Air Force Base.

December 1950: Deliveries of Boeing B-47A Stratojet Begin

In December 1950, deliveries of the new Boeing B-47A Stratojet to the Air Force and SAC began.

May 1951: B-47A Stratojet Enters Service

In May 1951, the Boeing B-47A Stratojet aircraft entered service with the 306th Bombardment Wing.

June 1952: 305th Upgrades to Boeing B-47B Stratojet

In June 1952, the 305th upgraded to the all-jet Boeing B-47B Stratojet.

June 1952: 809th Air Division Takes Over Host Responsibilities

On 16 June 1952, the 809th Air Division (809th AD) took over host unit responsibilities for MacDill AFB.

1960: First Attempt to Close MacDill AFB

In 1960, the first attempt to close MacDill AFB was made due to the impending phaseout of SAC's B-47 bombers.

April 1962: Activation of 15th Tactical Fighter Wing

In April 1962, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at MacDill and assigned to 9th Air Force, initially equipped with the F-84F Thunderjet.

1962: Transfer from SAC to TAC

In 1962, MacDill AFB was transferred from SAC to TAC, marking a transition from a bomber-centric base to a fighter-centric installation.

1962: Base Repurposed After Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted MacDill's strategic location, halting planned cuts and repurposing the base for a tactical mission. The United States Strike Command was established at MacDill as a crisis response force.

1964: 15th TFW Upgrades to F-4C Phantom II

In 1964, the 15th TFW upgraded to the tail-coded McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II.

January 1970: 1st Tactical Fighter Wing Reassigned to MacDill

On 10 January 1970, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned without personnel or equipment to MacDill.

1970: U.S. Strike Command Renamed

In 1970, U.S. Strike Command was renamed United States Readiness Command.

1972: 1st TFW Standardizes Aircraft with Tail Code "FF"

In 1972, the 1st TFW standardized all of its aircraft with the common wing tail code "FF".

1980: Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force Activated

In 1980, the new Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force was activated.

1983: US Central Command Created

In 1983, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force became United States Central Command.

1987: U.S. Special Operations Command Activated

In 1987, United States Special Operations Command was activated at MacDill AFB.

1991: MacDill AFB Targeted for Closure

In 1991, the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) ordered that all flight-line activities cease at MacDill AFB by 1993, as part of military downsizing after the Cold War.

August 1992: Emergency Evacuation of Aircraft Due to Hurricane Andrew

In August 1992, prior to Hurricane Andrew's landfall, the 31st Fighter Wing and the 482d Fighter Wing evacuated their F-16C and F-16D aircraft to MacDill AFB.

1993: Flight-line Activities to Cease

By 1993, the 1991 Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) ordered that all flight-line activities cease at MacDill AFB.

1993: Flight-Line Closure Order Rescinded

In 1993, the flight-line closure order for MacDill was rescinded, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration transferred to MacDill AFB.

January 1994: 6th Air Base Wing Stands Up

In January 1994, the Air Combat Command's 6th Air Base Wing stood up at MacDill AFB to operate the base.

October 1996: 6th Air Base Wing Renamed 6th Air Refueling Wing

In October 1996, the 6th Air Base Wing was renamed the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW) and transferred from ACC to the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

1996: MacDill Becomes an Air Mobility Command Installation

In 1996, MacDill became an Air Mobility Command installation, with the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW) as the host wing.

January 2001: 310th Airlift Squadron Activated

In January 2001, the 310th Airlift Squadron (310 AS) was activated at the base, flying the CT-43A and EC-135Y aircraft.

September 2001: Air Show Cancellation

In September 2001, the annual air show and "open house" was cancelled due to security concerns following the attacks on the United States of 11 September 2001.

2001: Tampa Bay Area Awarded Abilene Trophy

In 2001, the Tampa Bay area was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which annually honors the most supportive Air Force city in Air Mobility Command.

2002: Air Show Cancellation

In 2002, the annual air show and "open house" was cancelled due to security concerns following the attacks on the United States of 11 September 2001.

2003: MARCENT Staff Primarily at MacDill AFB

From late 2003 until 2012, the Commanding General remained in California, while his MARCENT staff primarily resided at MacDill AFB.

2003: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vacates Tampa HQ

From late 2003 until early 2004, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command vacated its Tampa "rear headquarters" at MacDill AFB. The consolidation of USNAVCENT staff activities at COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, finalized in early 2004.

2003: Tampa Bay Area Awarded Abilene Trophy

In 2003, the Tampa Bay area was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which annually honors the most supportive Air Force city in Air Mobility Command.

2003: Air Show Cancellation Due to Operation Iraqi Freedom

In 2003, the annual air show was cancelled due to the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2004: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vacates Tampa HQ

2004: Naval Reserve Center Tampa Vacates Downtown Location

From late 2004 until early 2005, Naval Reserve Center Tampa vacated its downtown location and consolidated with the former Naval Reserve Center St. Petersburg.

2005: Naval Reserve Center Tampa Vacates Downtown Location

From late 2004 until early 2005, Naval Reserve Center Tampa vacated its downtown location and consolidated with the former Naval Reserve Center St. Petersburg.

2005: Base Realignment and Closure Recommendations

In 2005, the Department of Defense recommended realigning Grand Forks Air Force Base, distributing the 319th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135R aircraft to MacDill AFB, increasing the number of KC-135R aircraft assigned to the 6 AMW from twelve to sixteen, and hosting a Reserve association with the 927th Air Refueling Wing.

2006: Naval Reserve Center Tampa Renamed

In 2006, Naval Reserve Center Tampa was renamed Navy Operational Support Center Tampa.

2006: Air Show Canceled Due to Security Concerns

In 2006, the annual air show was canceled due to security concerns on base.

2007: 927 ARW Relocation Begins

In 2007, the 927th Air Refueling Wing began relocating from Selfridge ANGB to MacDill AFB as part of the Reserve Associate arrangement, where both the 6 AMW and the 927 ARW would share KC-135R aircraft.

April 2008: 927 ARW Formally Established at MacDill

In April 2008, the 927th Air Refueling Wing formally established itself at MacDill AFB, completing its relocation from Selfridge ANGB, Michigan.

April 2008: 927th Air Refueling Wing Relocates to MacDill AFB

In April 2008, the Air Force Reserve Command's 927th Air Refueling Wing relocated from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, to MacDill AFB.

2008: Air Show Reinstated

In 2008, the annual air show was reinstated after being canceled in 2006 due to security concerns.

2011: Ntrepid Contract Controversy

In early 2011, news outlets reported that Ntrepid, a software company, had been awarded a $2.76 million U.S. government contract to create false online personas, with possible operations from MacDill AFB.

2012: COMUSMARCENT Takes Up Full-Time Residency at MacDill

In 2012, the COMUSMARCENT and CG I MEF billets were broken into separate billets, and COMUSMARCENT took up full-time residency in MARCENT's headquarters facility at MacDill AFB, upgrading the facility to a 3-star headquarters.

2013: Air Show Canceled Due to Budget Constraints

In 2013, the annual air show was canceled due to defense budget constraints.

August 2014: 598 RANS Previously Designated as Detachment 1 of the 23rd Wing

Until August 2014, the 598 RANS was designated as Detachment 1 of the 23rd Wing (23 WG).

2014: Air Show Reinstated as Biennial Event

In 2014, the annual air show was reinstated as a biennial event.

August 2015: 598 RANS Previously Designated as Det 1 of the 23d Fighter Group

Until August 2015, the 598 RANS was designated as Det 1 of the 23d Fighter Group (23 FG).

September 2015: 598th Range Squadron Activated

In September 2015, the 598th Range Squadron (598 RANS) was activated at the MacDill AFB Auxiliary Field at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.

2015: USAF Plans to Add Aircraft

In 2015, long-range USAF plans outlined in the defense budget called for MacDill AFB to add eight additional KC-135R aircraft to its existing sixteen by FY2018 and increase manning by approximately 300 personnel.

2016: AirFest Features Live Webcast

AirFest 2016 was the first-ever airshow to feature a live webcast of the performers, including the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.

2016: Air Force informs NOAA of relocation need

In 2016, the Air Force informed NOAA that they would no longer be able to host the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center due to the anticipated increase in KC-135R aircraft and the need for additional maintenance hangar space.

May 2017: NOAA Relocation Begins

In May 2017, NOAA began its relocation to a new facility at Lakeland Linder International Airport, northeast of MacDill AFB.

June 2017: NOAA Relocation Completed

In June 2017, NOAA completed its relocation to a new facility at Lakeland Linder International Airport, northeast of MacDill AFB.

2017: NOAA AOC Hosted at MacDill Until Mid-2017

Until mid-2017, MacDill AFB hosted the Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

September 2019: 310th Airlift Squadron Inactivated

In September 2019, the 310th Airlift squadron inactivated, and the 6th Air Mobility Wing was re-designated as the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

2019: Air Force Receives Information about Forgotten Cemetery

In 2019, the Air Force received information from the Tampa Bay History Center about the existence of a former African-American graveyard on the grounds of the base.

December 2021: 6th Air Refueling Wing to Re-equip with KC-46 Pegasus

In December 2021, the Air Force announced that the 6th Air Refueling Wing would re-equip with 24 of the new Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft in the coming years.

2021: MARCENT Headquarters Downgraded

In 2021, MARCENT was downgraded to a 2-star headquarters.

2021: Navy Operational Support Center Tampa Renamed

In late 2021, the facility was renamed Navy Reserve Center Tampa and the FTS personnel redesignated back to their historical designation as Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) persopnnel.

January 2024: Unmarked Graves Discovered at MacDill

In January 2024, Air Force officials announced the discovery of potentially 121 unmarked graves on the grounds of MacDill Air Force Base. The search continues, along with outreach to the community.

June 2024: Report of Propaganda Campaign

In June 2024, Reuters reported that a secret propaganda campaign to disparage the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in the developing world was conducted from MacDill AFB using fake social media accounts.

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