MacDill.. where did the name come from?

MacDill.. where did the name come from?

Poke the X for answer..

Not exactly sure what we're supposed to do here. This is a pilot that crashed his plane, injured and killed people on the street, and then had an entire AF base named after him?

And so are we supposed to buy this photo ... why is this here on the military CG site?

monkey44 wrote:

Not exactly sure what we're supposed to do here. This is a pilot that crashed his plane, injured and killed people on the street, and then had an entire AF base named after him?

And so are we supposed to buy this photo ... why is this here on the military CG site?

It is posted for everyone's enjoyment & education..

It is posted under " Pot Pourri; General discussion that doesn't fit another forum" as general discussion.

It is not intended as a sales ploy.. just look for free if one cares to..

Like you I am surprised that an AFB is named for someone who augered into a neighborhood.. go figure.

I like the Sailors from NAS Anacostia operating the crane and the hats on the Army Air Corps crew in coveralls, 'specially the pork pie hat on the corporal.

We just came home from shopping at MacDill and it was good to read this old bit of memorabilia. I am retired army but retired out of MacDill in Central Command so thanks for the memory!

LOL....seems like our brothers in the Air Force have a habit of naming bases for folks who can't seem to keep air under their wings.

I just left Ellsworth AFB after touring their museum (really neat place...stop by if you're in the neighborhood, it's worth the trip.) One of the exhibits is on the history of the base. It was originally Rapid City Army Air Corps base, but was renamed after some guy who crashed his plane. The folks of Rapid City petitioned the War Department to name it back to Rapid City Air Base! One of their assigned bombers was enroute back to Rapid City from supporting the Berlin Airlift and crashed in Newfoundland....killing everyone on board, including the wing commander, one BG Ellsworth. President Eisenhower apparently knew him and the base name was changed again to Ellsworth Air Force Base. DDE presided over the naming ceremony.

Then I saw this thread on here and how McDill was named for a crashed aviator. My curiosity was aroused and I started checking a couple of other AF Bases out. Looks like there's a morbid fascination with naming bases after these folks. The Patterson of Wright-Patterson AFB was killed during a training accident. I couldn't determine whether or not he was military, but he WAS the son of one of the founders of the National Cash Register Company. And Randolph AFB was named after the chairman of the committee assigned to come up with a name for the base after HE was killed in a crash!

Just to give this a little balance, Cairns Field at Ft Rucker was named after the Army commanding general who crashed his helicopter, supposedly after he forgot to turn a heater on and his fuel line froze over.

BTW....that photo site is fascinating!

MACDILL FACT SHEET