MacDill: 1950 to 2000

MacDill: 1950 to 2000. The Base Maneuvers Through the Years. , 3 F-80 Shooting Stars Fly to Korea , In February 1951, MacDill's 307th deployed to Okinawa for the Korean conflict. It was one of the first units to move its fighting forces overseas., MacDill During Vietnam , During the Vietnam conflict, MacDill AFB provided pilot training for combat missions using F-4 Fighter Jets and B-51 Bombers. In July 1965, MacDill's 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron was the first F-4 unit in Southeast Asia, and was credited with the first air victory of the Vietnam conflict, utilizing its excellent training to down two North Vietnamese MiG-17s., Kennedy Visits MacDill - 1963 , President John F. Kennedy spoke at MacDill AFB on November 18th, 1963. Only four days later, JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas., F-16 Pilot Training , In 1979, the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing began its mission of F-16 pilot training. From 1979 to 1993, approximately half of all F-16 pilots were trained at MacDill. During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, accelerated training programs expanded to allow many pilots to go straight from initial training to combat units in the Persian Gulf., Rep. Young Promotes Base , From 1970 and into the 21st century, Representative C.W. (Bill) Young's strong support of MacDill AFB in the U.S. Congress has helped the base remain a critical component of the country's national defense.