Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I wish to honor MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, during its 75th anniversary year. MacDill's humble start began during its construction when aircrews of the 29th Bomber Group landed their B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on a nearby dirt airstrip in farmer John Drew's fields after flying antisubmarine patrols in the Gulf of Mexico. Later named Drew Field, this strip is now known as Tampa International Airport. Formally dedicated on April 16, 1941, MacDill was primarily known for training bomber aircrews of the III Bomber Command. Intrepid but inexperienced crews learning to fly B-26 Marauder bombers at MacDill were glad of Tampa's warm climate when ditching their aircraft in the waters surrounding the field. The regularity of this occurrence prompted air crews to jokingly coin the phrase ``Once a day in Tampa Bay.'' MacDill proved its strategic significance during World War II as an antisubmarine patrol and air defense base home to B-24A Liberators of the 44th Bomber Group and Seversky P-35 aircraft of the 53rd Pursuit Group. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, MacDill again displayed its geographical importance, serving as a prime location for staging B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft. Transitioning from a primarily bomber base once home to the famed B- 17 Memphis Belle, MacDill became a Tactical Air Command installation flying the F-84 Thunderstreak jet fighter.…”