TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE

'Tyndall Air Force Base' is a base of the United States Air Force in Bay County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,757 at the 2000 census. The base is operated by the 325th Fighter Wing.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History

External link

Geography

Tyndall AFB is located at (30.078483, -85.576343).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²). 37.7 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.41%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,757 people, 663 households, and 653 families residing in the base. The population density was 73.1/km² (189.2/mi²). There were 663 housing units at an average density of 17.6/km² (45.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the base was 77.79% White, 14.22% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 3.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.83% from other races, and 4.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.27% of the population.
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.
In 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.

History

Construction of Tyndall AFB began in May 1941. The name of Tyndall Field was in memory of Lt. Frank B. Tyndall, a World War I ace, who was killed in 1930.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the first of 2,000 troops arrived at Tyndall Field. The first class of gunnery students began in February 1942. Foreign student training began at Tyndall in 1943 with French Air Force gunnery students being the first and Chinese students following later that year. Today, foreign students attend weapons controller training at Tyndall.
When World War II ended, Tyndall was demobilized. The base fell under the control of the Tactical Air Command in 1946. This only lasted three months, as Tyndall became part of Air University. In September 1950, Tyndall became an Air Training Command unit, designated as the USAF Pilot Instructor School. The base also trained Ground Controlled Intercept (GCI) operators as well as interceptor pilots & flight crews for the Air Defense Command. Under the auspices of this training system, GCI trainees would direct TF-51H Mustangs against "enemy" A-26 Invaders. In late 1952, both aircraft were replaced by Lockheed T-33 trainers. Airborne radar operator students would begin their training aboard radar-equipped TB-25 Mitchells, then transition to either Lockheed F-94 or Northrop F-89 aircraft. North American F-86Ds were eventually added to the training program as ADC units were equipped with them. In September 1957, Tyndall became part of the Air Defense Command. Tyndall again fell under the Tactical Air Command began in October 1979.
In 1991, Tyndall underwent a reorganization in response to the Department of Defense efforts to streamline defense management. Headquarters, First Air Force moved from Langley AFB, Virginia, to Tyndall. Transition continued as the base transferred from the Air Combat Command to the Air Education and Training Command in July 1993.
Tyndall AFB was struck by a tornado in 2003. The tornado caused an estimated $250,000 worth of damage to 10 facilities and more than 30 vehicles in the area. No one was injured and base operations were uninterrupted.
Today, Tyndall is the home of the 325th Fighter Wing training F-15 and F-22 pilots. Additionally, the Air Force's Air Battle Managers are all trained at this base. A branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate also has facilities at Tyndall.

External link

★ Tyndall Air Force Base Homepage