[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               75TH ANNIVERSARY OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE

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                          HON. DENNIS A. ROSS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 75th anniversary of 
MacDill Air Force Base. MacDill has had a long and storied history 
during the last 75 years. With much of the world engulfed in conflict 
in 1939, the War Department selected Tampa, Florida to house a new 
military air field which would go on to become MacDill Air Force Base. 
With Tampa's natural and strategic location, MacDill has grown and 
expanded over its 75 years serving as a testament to our nation's 
military might and the Tampa Bay area's dedication to supporting the 
brave men and women of the Armed Services.
   Officially activated on April 16, 1941, MacDill trained World War II 
airmen to fly and operate bombers including the B-17 Flying Fortress 
and the B-26 Marauder. Throughout the Second World War, MacDill saw 
thousands of servicemen train to lead the force in the dangerous skies 
over Europe. From start to finish, MacDill played a critical role in 
our country's great military achievement.
   After World War II, the bombers gave way to fighters when MacDill 
became a Tactical Air Command. The turmoil of the 1960's again 
highlighted the strategic importance of MacDill's location. Throughout 
the Vietnam War and up until the first Gulf War in 1991, the Tampa Bay 
region became a home for the F-4 Phantoms and later F-16 Fighting 
Falcons. Between 1979 and 1993, about half of all F-16 fighter pilots 
trained at MacDill Air Force Base.
   Currently, MacDill houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 39 Mission 
Teammates, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations 
Command. MacDill is home to more than 13,000 military and civilian 
personnel and about 170,000 retirees live in the Tampa Bay area and 
depend on the base for many necessary services. MacDill remains a vital 
economic driver and a source of good paying jobs in the counties of 
Hillsborough and Polk in my district. MacDill extends the global reach 
of U.S. air power through global air refueling and airlift operations 
and is a mission our community embraces.
   In facing our nation's ongoing and future national security 
challenges, I am confident that MacDill will continue to play a vital 
role in protecting the safety of our families and all Americans. The 
Tampa Bay region is proud to host and I am honored to represent 
thousands of servicemen and women, veterans, and civilians who work at 
and rely on MacDill Air Force Base every day, and especially on its 75 
year anniversary.

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