Florida is the 27th state admitted to the Union, and it also happens to be the state I reside in.
From its lush, tropical landscape and weather, to its white sandy beaches and cultural diversity, I personally think it’s one of the best places in the United States to live.
It also happens to be home to six Air Force bases, all of varying sizes.
Below is a list of all of these bases, including their location, units headquartered at the Air Force base, when it was built, and their official website.
Click Here to see our list of every Air Force base in the US.
Related Article – How To Join The US Air Force
Table of Contents
Air Force Bases in Florida
#1. Eglin Air Force Base
Location: Valparaiso, Florida
In Use: 1935 – Present (Originally Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base)
Overall Mission: It serves as the base of the 96th Test Wing under the Air Force Materiel Command. This is where the development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of air-delivered non-nuclear weapons happens. It also conducts the testing and evaluation of command and control systems and navigation and guidance systems.
Units Stationed At Eglin Air Force Base:
- 96th Test Wing
- 33rd Fighter Wing
- 82nd Training Wing
- 53rd Wing
- 926th Wing
- 1st Special Forces Command (US Army – Airborne)
Official Site: https://www.eglin.af.mil/
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#2. Homestead Air Reserve Base
Location: Homestead, Florida
In Use: 1942 – Present
Overall Mission: Homestead Air Reserve Base is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing, which is an F-16 unit providing fighter operations. This Air Force base was actually destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and was subsequently rebuilt. The base was transferred to the control of the USAF Reserves in 1994.
Units Stationed At Homestead Air Force Base:
- 482nd Fighter Wing (host unit)
- 125th Fighter Wing (Florida National Guard)
- Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (Coast Guard)
- Headquarters US Special Operations Command Southern (DoD)
Official Site: https://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/
#3. Hurlburt Field
Location: Mary Esther, Florida
In Use: 1942 – Present
Overall Mission: Hurlburt Field is part of Eglin AFB, but maintains its own history and command structure. It is the headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command, including the 1st Special Operations Wing. It serves as a training ground for Air Force Special Forces to prepare them for different missions.
Units Stationed at Hurlburt Field:
- 1st Special Operations Wing
- 24th Special Operations Wing
- 492nd Special Operations Wing
- US Air Force Warfare Center
- 57th Wing
- 505th Command and Control Wing
- 557th Weather Wing
- Sixteenth Air Force
- 67th Cyberspace Wing
- 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing
- 96th Test Wing
- 919th Special Operations Wing
Official Site: https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/
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#4. MacDill Air Force Base
Location: Tampa, Florida
In Use: 1939 – Present
Overall Mission: It serves as an operational base for the Air Force and is home to the 6th Refueling Wing. It is also home to two U.S. military unified commands: US Central Command and US Special Operations Command.
Units Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base:
- 6th Air Refueling Wing
- 927th Air Refueling Wing
- 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron (Florida Air National Guard)
- Navy Operational Support Center – Tampa (US Navy Reserve)
- Headquarters United States Marine Forces Central Command
- National Intelligence University Southern Academic Center
- US Central Command
- US Special Operations Command
- Joint Communications Support Element
- National Defense University
Official Site: https://www.macdill.af.mil/
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#5. Tyndall Air Force Base
Location: Panama City, Florida
In Use: 1941 – Present
Overall Mission: This serves as the home base for the 325th Fighter Wing, 1st Air Force, and 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. It also trains F-22A Raptor pilots as well as air battle managers and maintenance personnel to support Air Force combat actions.
Units Stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base:
- 325th Fighter Wing
- 44th Fighter Group
- First Air Force
- 53d Wing
- 125th Student Flight
- 337th Air Control Squadron
Official Site: https://www.tyndall.af.mil/
#6. Patrick Space Force Base
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida
In Use: 1940 – Present (Originally Naval Air Station Banana River)
Overall Mission: Not now technically an Air Force Base, Patrick officially transferred to Space Force control in December 2020. It is home to the 45th Space Wing. Located near Cocoa Beach, FL, it is also associated with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. One of their primary objectives is the management of all launches of unmanned rockets taking off from nearby Cape Canaveral to the north.
Units Stationed At Patrick Air Force Base:
- 45th Space Wing
- 114th Space Control Squadron (Air National Guard Unit)
- 920th Rescue Wing (Air Force Reserve)
- Air Force Technical Applications
Official Site: https://www.patrick.af.mil/
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Air Force bases are there in Florida?
Florida is home to four Air Force Bases, including Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, and Tyndall AFB in the panhandle and MacDill AFB in Tampa on the Suncoast. It also has Homestead Air Reserve Base near Miami and Patrick Space Force Base near Cocoa Beach.
Does Patrick AFB work for NASA?
Patrick AFB is now Patrick SFB and has provided support for NASA for over 60 years. Currently dedicated to missile launches, it serves as the primary defense for the Space Coast. With the existing 45th Space Wing in residence already, it was designated a Space Force Base at the end of 2020.
Is Eglin the largest Air Force base?
Located on the Emerald Coast of Florida, Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the world, measuring 464,000 acres.
Is Homestead Air Force still active?
Homestead Air Reserve Base was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm that hit on August 24, 1992. Since that time, the base has been rebuilt and hosts the 482nd Fighter Wing.
Do Florida Air Force bases have beaches?
Eglin AFB is only a few miles from Fort Walton Beach. Patrick SFB, by Kennedy Space Center, is close to Cocoa Beach. MacDill AFB is located in an urban center but boasts a recreational beach and marina on Tampa Bay.
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Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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Thanks for the brief overview of the Air Force/Space Force Bases in Florida!
No problem, glad to help!
Thanks for putting together “AFBs in Florida” page. I “took delivery of an F-16D Block 52+” at Homestead today in X-Plane12 gifted to me by a friend. I put a lot of sim hours in the Viper back in the 80’s and 90’s and am going to enjoy revisiting my passion for this bird over the skies of south Florida. (Since the wife grounded me years ago, I sim fly a LongEZ and Cabri G2 out of KLNA these days.)