Early in the 1920s, just as aviation was gaining a foothold in the United States, John H. Drew, a contractor and developer, along with Hugh C. MacFarlane, known as the cigar king of West Tampa, bought land west of Tampa and built a private landing strip.

The city later bought this property and Drew Field Municipal Airport opened in 1928. Then, with the prospect of war looming, the U.S. government leased the field as a sub-post to MacDill Army Airfield.

With the completion of MacDill, Drew became a separate base. During World War II, Drew Field would play host to numerous fighter, bomber and training squadrons. At its peak, Drew encompassed 15 square miles and was home to more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel.

During the war, a wide array of aircraft flew in and out of Drew. They include the P-40 Warhawk, the B-25 and B-34 bombers, P-47 Thunderbolts, the A-24 dive bomber and P-51B Mustangs. The base was even host to an anti-submarine unit that flew reconnaissance missions over the Gulf of Mexico, looking for Nazi U-boats.

After the war, Drew Field was inactivated and returned to the city of Tampa for civil use as Drew Field Municipal Airport. It became Tampa International Airport in 1950, and most of Drew Field/TIA’s original structures have long since been razed. However, the basic L-shaped footprint of Drew Field can still be seen in the outline of the current airport.

Drew Field also played a prominent part in the city’s development of sports facilities. In 1949, the federal government sold the city of Tampa an undeveloped 720-acre parcel on the eastern edge of Drew Field. It became Al Lopez Field and Tampa Stadium. Later it would become the current home of Raymond James Stadium and Steinbrenner Field.

Drew Park, as it is now known, is a community in transition. While Drew Park is home to two of Tampa’s most notable institutions – Hillsborough Community College and Steinbrenner Field – its mixed-use zoning, while popular with residents, has led to an eclectic mix of industrial, commercial and residential development.

The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office is proud to be a part of Drew Park and treasures its commitment to honoring the men and women of Drew Field who served our nation during a time of war.