Initial uses MacDill Air Force Base

1943 macdill field

after war in europe had broken out in september 1939, fears of nazi u-boats attacking american merchant shipping in gulf of mexico concern of war department , navy department. though united states @ peace, lend lease shipments of war goods england , establishment of army , navy bases in caribbean sea south of florida brought fears of u-boat attacks on shipping in gulf, oil tankers refineries in texas , louisiana.

flying operations @ macdill began in 1941 base s first mission being defense of gulf of mexico. aircraft , men housed @ drew army airfield until runways @ macdill built. despite these obstacles, flying operations commenced on 7 february 1941. hundreds of troops lived in mosquito-infested tent city @ field while barracks being built. official flag-raising ceremony sponsored tampa elk s lodge on 16 june 1941.

air defense of tampa bay area mission of 53d pursuit group (interceptor), established @ macdill field on 15 january 1941. equipped seversky p-35, 53d flew air defense patrols until japanese attack on pearl harbor. reassigned vi fighter command @ howard field, canal zone provide air defense of panama canal.

the 29th bombardment group moved macdill field langley field, virginia on 21 may 1940. lieutenant colonel vincent j. meloy, commander of 29th bombardment group, led first flight of aircraft macdill on 17 january 1941. consisted of fourteen aircraft flown langley field macdill field: 3 b-17s, 2 a-17s, , 9 b-18s. group flew antisubmarine patrols on eastern gulf waters until june 1942 when group transitioned b-24 liberator operational training unit , assigned ii bomber command @ gowen field, idaho.

the 44th bombardment group activated @ macdill field on 15 january 1941 equipped consolidated b-24a liberator. liberator ordered royal air force lb-30 or liberator i. these aircraft destined raf coastal command use in battles against u-boat menace. normal operating range of 2400 miles, liberators doubled effective range of b-18 , fly long anti-submarine patrols equipped large bomb load attack submarines if spotted. patrols flown on atlantic coast east of florida. after 7 december 1941 japanese attack on pearl harbor, 44th reassigned barksdale field, louisiana.

in addition antisubmarine mission, prewar mission of macdill field project x, ferrying of combat aircraft eastward philippines via ferrying routes set ferrying command on south atlantic ocean , central africa. aircraft ferried via india australia planned used reinforce philippines air force. these operations began in february 1941 , performed 6th , 43d bombardment squadron flying b-18 bolo , b-17 flying fortress. in 60 days, 15 lb-30 , 63 b-17 aircraft departed macdill via south atlantic , africa australia.