Tinker Air Force Base

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A water tower on the north side of Tinker Air Force Base

Tinker Air Force Base — Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC)— is a major U.S. Air Force military base located near Oklahoma City, in the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma. The base has more than 24,000 employees and covers 4,277 acres (17.31 km²) and contains approximately 500 buildings.

Units currently stationed at Tinker

Tinker AFB is home to seven major Department of Defense, Air Force and Navy activities with critical national defense missions.

The 552d Air Control Wing (ACW) flies the E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft and is part of the Air Force’s Air Combat Command Air Expeditionary Force. The E-3’s radar and other sensors provide deep-look surveillance, warning, interception control and airborne battle management. The 552 ACW encompasses 3 groups: the 552d Operations Group; the 552d Maintenance Group; and the 552d Communications Group. In the Operations Group (OG) there are 7 squadrons: the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS), 963 AACS, 964 AACS, 965 AACS, 966 AACS, 970 AACS (Reserve), and the 552d Training Squadron. The 552d Communications Group consists of the 752d Communication Squadron and the 552d Computer Systems Squadron, which is the sole AWACS software development squadron in the USAF. The wing was formerly located at McClellan AFB, California, and prior to the delivery of the E-3 in 1977, was the home of the EC-121 Warning Star; one of which is on static display near the Wing's headquarters building.
The 507th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Force Reserve flying unit. OC-ALC is the primary source of depot maintenance for the wing’s KC-135R aircraft and engines. The Wing also supports U.S. Military and NATO aircraft with aerial refueling and Airborne Warning and Control System missions world-wide.
The 38th Engineering Installation Group has worldwide responsibility for engineering and installation of all communications and electronic facilities for the Air Force.
The Defense Mega Center Oklahoma City is the local branch of the Defense Information Systems Agency. The Mega center operates computer systems for the base and serves 110 other bases in 46 states.
The Navy’s Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) Wing ONE is a one-of-a kind unit in the Navy. This Wing provides a vital, secure communications link to the submerged fleet of ballistic missile submarines. OC-ALC airframe artisans perform depot work on the Navy’s E-6 Mercury airplanes while sailors perform field level work.
The Defense Distribution Depot Oklahoma provides the receipt, storage, issue, inspection and shipment of material, including material quality control, preservation and packaging, inventory, transportation functions and pick up and delivery services in support of OC-ALC and other Tinker-based organizations.
The 3d Combat Communications Group (colloquially known as the "Third Herd") provides deployable communications, computer systems, navigational aids and air traffic control services anywhere in the world.

Also, during much of the 1990s, Tinker was home to the Automated Weather Network switching facility, which consolidated all U.S. military weather data worldwide. Originally based at Carswell Air Force Base, this unit was later moved to an Air Force Weather Agency facility at Offutt Air Force Base.

History

A C-47 Skytrain on display at Tinker.

In 1940, the War Department was considering the central United States as a location for a supply and maintenance depot. Oklahoma City leaders offered a 480 acre (1.94 km²) site and acquired an option for 960 additional acres (3.89 km²) of land. On April 8, 1941, the order was officially signed awarding the depot to Oklahoma City.

In 1942, the new installation was named Tinker Field in honor of Major General Clarence L. Tinker of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. General Tinker was killed in a crash while leading a flight of B-24 Liberators on a long-range strike against Japanese forces on Wake Island during World War II.

Tinker Field was the site of a Douglas Aircraft factory producing approximately half of the C-47 Skytrains used in World War II. The site also produced a number of A-20 Havocs. Production ceased in 1945.

The first successful tornado forecast in history was issued on March 25, 1948 from Tinker, about three hours before the tornado hit the southeast corner of the base. A granite marker in the Heritage Airpark on the base commemorates the event.

External links

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