Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Tampa Goes to War

U.S. Enters WWII and MacDill Readies the Air Attack

Photographed By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

1. Tampa Goes to War Marker

Inscription.
MacDill's First Base Commander
• Col. Clarence L. Tinker took command on March 11, 1940
• First Native American to attain the rank of Major General
• Killed in action in Pacific Theater during Battle for Midway in 1942
• Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, OK and Tinker Elementary School in Tampa, FL are named in his honor

Before he piloted the historic mission over Hiroshima, Col. Paul Tibbets was Commander of the 340th Bomb Squadron - 97th Bombardment Group at MacDill.

In 1959, Col. Tibbets returned to MacDill as Commander of the 6th Air Division and was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.

By 1945, over 3000 African-American soldiers were based at MacDill Field.

(Photos of "The Legendary Memphis Belle B-17 at MacDill Field", a Combat Pilot, a MacDill Field ID Card, pilots "Taking a Break", a B-26 Squadron Leather Patch, and Members of the Drum & Bugle Corp of the 810th Engineer Battalion)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Native Americans • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is March 11, 1940.

Location. 27° 56.718′ N, 82° 27.519′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough

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County. Marker is on North Ashley Drive north of East Whiting Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is installed at MacDill Park on the Riverwalk, in downtown Tampa. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 North Ashley Drive, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The War Years (here, next to this marker); In the Beginning... (here, next to this marker); History in the Air (a few steps from this marker); Tampa Salutes MacDill AFB (a few steps from this marker); Tampa Bay and MacDill (within shouting distance of this marker); Today at MacDill AFB (within shouting distance of this marker); MacDill: 1950 to 2000 (within shouting distance of this marker); Technology • Power • Diversity (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

More about this marker. The marker is one of several located in the park. It is along the sidewalk, facing the street.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To discover how MacDill Air Force Base came to be and its roles through the decades, study each marker in the order shown.

Additional keywords. Riverwalk

Photographed By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

2. Tampa Goes to War Marker

Looking across MacDill Park to Tampa's Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River

MacDill Park on the Riverwalk image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, July 30, 2010

3. MacDill Park on the Riverwalk

The park contains several historic markers and the 1995 steel sculpture Big Max by American artist John Henry. Here, they are dwarfed by Wachovia Center (center) and 100 North Tampa (left).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,105 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 3. submitted on August 7, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.