Located on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Tinker K-8 School is named for the distinguished General Clarence L. Tinker. General Tinker, was the first American Indian in U.S. Army history to receive the rank of major general. General Tinker played a key role in developing MacDill Field. In 1941, he piloted the first aircraft to land at MacDill field. General Tinker was the first U.S. general to die in World War II. His plane vanished at sea during the Battle of Midway. The school, which opened under the U.S. Department of Defense, has been part of the Hillsborough County Public School District since 1952.The original school has since been rebuilt. However the strong sense of pride and dedication is still found amongst the faculty, staff, students and parents. Tinker expanded to include grades kindergarten through eighth grade in August 2015.