FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida

Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located 12 miles east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

The 325th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22A Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air Force. Training for F-22 pilots is performed in the 43rd Fighter Squadron. The 325th Air Control Squadron trains air battle managers for assignment to combat Air Force units.

Additionally, wing personnel manage the southeastern air combat maneuvering instrumentation range and provide mission-ready F-15, F-16 and F-22 air dominance forces in support of the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)/First Air Force contingency plans.

Other specialties trained under the 325th Fighter Wing include F-22 intelligence officer training, F-22 crew chief training and officer and enlisted air traffic controller training.

The 325th Fighter Wing is host to more than 30 tenant organizations located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The wing is comprised of the 325th Operations Group, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Mission Support Group and 325th Medical Group.

The primary mission of the 325th Mission Support Group is to provide dominant mission support and combat-ready Airmen to Team Tyndall and worldwide expeditionary forces. These support services and activities include providing civil engineering, security, communications, personnel, services, contracting, supply, and transportation support for 21,000 active duty, civilian, dependent, and retired personnel.

Learn More About Tyndall Air Force Base HERE!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

My service at Tyndall was a pleasant experience. The fishing was great and, if you liked scallops, they were readily available in the water behind the BOQ. It was the first time for me in the South and I decided to stay there after my honorable discharge. Studied chemical engineering at Auburn and never went back north.

As far as I know, at Tyndall the first target squadron was created — 4756th Drone Squadron. We flew the Ryan Firebee and launched it from the wing of a B-26. The drone was controlled from the ground and flew elliptical paths above the Gulf. F-104s made passes at them and after the drone ran out of fuel, a parachute was deployed and the drone splashed in the Gulf where we picked it up with a converted 63-foot PT boat and returned it to Tyndall for maintenance and reuse. I was so lucky to be a radio operator on one of the PT boats.

I never felt that I needed recognition or thanks for the service to my country. In fact, I was not even a US citizen at the time that I wore the uniform. I thank the USAF for preparing me for my future education and professional career.

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