Eglin history events for November

  • Published
  • By Dr. Robert Kane
  • Air Armament Center History Office
Dec 1, 1939:  The 23rd Composite Group issued its first progress report of service tests it had conducted at Eglin Field.

Nov 25, 1940:  Major W. A. Maxwell requested the establishment of 11 auxiliary flying fields in the Choctawatchee Forest. Clearing and grading of the first auxiliary field began on Nov 27.

Nov 24, 1941:  The base completed construction of Plew Heights, housing facilities of 200 units for noncommissioned officers and civilians.

Nov 20, 1951:  The US Army established its first Ranger camp on the Eglin military reservation at Auxiliary Field #7. In January 1970, it was moved to its present location at Auxiliary Field #6.

Nov 9, 1962:  The Department of Justice established a Federal Prison Camp at Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #6 for 250 minimum-custody male prisoners.

1 Nov 1963:  The Air Force inactivated the 3205th Drone Squadron, which, through several predecessor organizations, had flown a variety of drone aircraft at Eglin AFB since 1946.

1 Nov 1963:  The USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) was formed from the 4475th Tactical Air Warfare Group to test Air Force tactics and techniques designed to improve joint operations with the US Army. On 1 October 1995, the Air Combat Command consolidated the USAF Air Warfare Center with the inactive 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense), and re-designated the center the 53d Wing.

16 Nov 1970:  The Aeronautical Systems Division transferred to the Armament Development and Test Center developmental planning responsibility for air-launched, nonuclear tactical air-to-ground, tactical air-to-air, and air defense missiles.

20 Nov 1970:  Air Force helicopters landed Brig Gen LeRoy Manor's Son Tay Raiders, led by Col Arthur D. Simons, near the North Vietnamese prison camp in an attempt to rescue American POWs held there. The Raiders had trained at Eglin AFB since Aug. Unfortunately, the North Vietnamese had already moved the POWs o other prison camps.

26 Nov 1974:  The Armament and Development and Test Center completed the joint Air Force- Navy technical evaluation of the AIM-9L Sidewinder with the ability to intercept even non-afterburning targets from the front of the target.

2 Nov 1975:  The A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft arrived a t Eglin AFB for 14 weeks of environmental testing in the McKinley Climatic Laboratory.

2 Nov 1984:  HQ USAF approved the relocation of the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School from Indian Head, MD, to Eglin AFB.

Nov 8, 1993:  The space shuttle's special Boeing 747 carrier aircraft with the shuttle Columbia on top stopped at Eglin AFB on its way back to Kennedy Space Center.