McCoy Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base near Orlando, Florida. It was a training base during World War II, then after the war it became a Front-Line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War. The United States Air Force (or USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The city Beautiful Location Location in Orange County and the state of Florida. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union United States United Kingdom France and others Axis Powers: Germany Japan Italy and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II, also known as the... SAC shield The Strategic Air Command or SAC (1946-1992) was the branch of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the... The Cold War (Russian: Холодная война Kholodnaya Voina) was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their military alliance partners. ...

Today it is Orlando International Airport. Orlando International Airport (IATA: MCO, ICAO: KMCO) is an airport located in Orlando, Florida. ...

World War II

In 1940, the United States Army Air Force acquired 2,216 acres of scrubland southeast of Orlando for to build a training base. When completed, it was named Orlando Army Air Field Number Two and was intended to support the training mission of Orlando Air Base six miles to the north. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Orlando Executive Airport is an airport located in Orlando, Florida primarily serving the general aviation community. ...

In 1942, the facility was renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield and was used as a training base for B-17 bomber crews. Records indicate that planes from Pinecastle AAF performed test bombing of chemical munitions at the Pinecastle bombing and gunnery range. This article is about the year. ... A B_17 nicknamed Sally B in England in 2001 The B_17 Flying Fortress was the first mass_produced, four_engine heavy bomber. ...

It is uncertain whether the chemical warfare materials used in these tests were stored at Pinecastle Army Airfield or transported from the Orlando toxic gas and decontamination yard a few hours before a bombing run.

With the end of World War II, Pinecastle was used by Bell Aircraft Corp in the testing and development of the X-1 supersonic aircraft, originally designated the XS-1s. Combatants Allies: Soviet Union United States United Kingdom France and others Axis Powers: Germany Japan Italy and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II, also known as the... The Bell X-1, originally XS-1 was the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled, level flight. ...

Ship No. 1 flew the first unpowered glide tests at Pinecastle in early 1946. In March the X-1 program was relocated to Muroc AAF, California. The move was a logistics issue as much as anything, as Pinecastle was deemed not suitable for the project. 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Edwards Air Force Base is a USAF airbase located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, 7 miles (11 km) due East of Rosamond, USA at 34°57′ N 117°52′ W. An airbase since 1933, Edwards has long been a home... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

A move to the remote California desert ensured the X-1 project team could maintain secrecy, an important issue considering the project was classified at the time. In addition, Muroc had an expansive landing area, thanks to the surrounding dry lakebeds, and better visibility. The plane's high sink rate and the problems of keeping the plane in sight amid Florida's frequent clouds added two more votes in favor of the (Army Air Force's) decision to go to Muroc.

With the X-1 project transferred, Pinecastle was deactivated and the entire site was transferred to the City of Orlando in 1947.

USAF Use

In 1951 the United States Air Force reactivated the facility and renamed it Pinecastle Air Force Base. Over the next 18 years additional land was acquired to expand the base, eventually becoming over 4,400 acres in size. 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The United States Air Force (or USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ...

Its initial USAF use was as a B-47 training facility by Air Training Command. B-47 training started when Class 53-6A entered combat crew training on 22 December 1952. The Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber was a major postwar innovation in combat jet design, and it helped lead to the development of modern jet airliners. ... Air Training Command (ATC) was a former United States Air Force command. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On 1 January 1954 the B-47 combat crew training mission transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC). January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... SAC shield The Strategic Air Command or SAC (1946-1992) was the branch of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the...

On 15 December 1953, the 321st Bombardment Wing was activated and on 24 May 1954, Colonel Michael N. McCoy was appointed its commander. The wing became Operationally Ready by June. December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In July 1954 the 19th Bombardment Wing joined the 321st at Pinecastle and the two units came under the control of the 813th Air Division, commanded by Brigadier General Keith K. Compton. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The 813th was subsequently deactivated in the summer of 1956 when the 19th Bomb Wing moved to Homestead Air Force Base near Miami, Florida. Homestead Air Force Base, located 22 miles SSW of Miami, Florida (25 29 31. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ...

In September 1956, The 2nd Strategic Support Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Vernon Q. Mullin arrived. This unit was equipped with C-124 "Globemasters". 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed Old Shakey, was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. ...

In November 1957 the base was host to the medium bombers participating in the annual Stratigic Air Command Bombing Navigation and Reconnaissance Competition. An aircraft accident took the lives of Colonel McCoy, Group Captain John Woodroffe of the Royal Air Force, Lt. Col. Charles Joyce and Major Vernon Stuff during preparations for this event. 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Despite this tragedy, the 321st Bomb Wing, under the direction of its new commander, Colonel Robert W. Strong, Jr. Won the top honors of the meet, including the coveted Fairchild and McCoy trophies, distinguishing the 321st as the top B-47 Wing in SAC.

Another unit with distinction was assigned to Pinecastle AFB in November 1957. This was the 76th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, the modern descendants of the famous World War II "Flying Tigers." The 76th FIS was commanded by Major Morris F. Wilson and flew the F-89 "Scorpion" all weather interceptors. 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article concerns the American Volunteer Group, a World War II unit usually known as the Flying Tigers. For other uses of the term see Flying Tigers (disambiguation). ... F-89 is used for two different items: F-89 is the Australian designation for the M249 squad automatic weapon. ...

On 7 May 1958 Pinecastle AFB was renamed McCoy Air Force Base in memory of the late Colonel Michael N. W. McCoy. Formal dedication ceremonies were held on 21 May 1958 in conjunction with a mammoth open house, during which an estimated 30,000 Floridians attended. May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 1 February 1961 the 76th FIS was transferred to Westover AFB, Mass. On 15 June, the 2nd Strategic Support Squadron inactivated. February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ...

In the summer of 1961, a complete reogranization of the base began. A program got under way to convert the base from B-47’s to heavy B-52 "Stratofortress"s bombers. The 321st Bomb Wing began phasing out its operations in June 1961. On 1 July 1961 the 321st was replaced by 4047th Strategic Wing (Heavy) was designated and organized. Its first commander was Lt. Col. Francis S. Holmes, Jr. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... B-52 can refer to the following: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft A hairstyle popular in the 1950s and 1960s, named after the aircraft A rock band, The B-52s, named after the hairstyle A cocktail This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

In August 1961 the first B-52’s were assigned to the new wing, and on 1 September 1961 the 347th Bomb Squadron was re-assigned from Westover AFB to McCoy AFB to fly the heavy bombers. On 15 September the 321st Combat Support Group was organized. Also, on that same date, Colonel William G. Walker, Jr. assumed command of the 4047th Strategic Wing. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ...

The 321st Bomb Wing was discontinued on 25 October 1961, ending almost eight years of active service as one of SAC’s deterrent forces, Lieutenant Colonel Harry F. Baker was commander of the 321st when it was inactivated. October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

In 1963, the 306th Bombardment Wing moved to McCoy AFB, and converted to B-52 and KC-135 aircraft. The assets of the 4047th Strategic Wing were absorbed the 306 BW during this time. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2020s. ...

From 1965 until 1973, the wing supported Southeast Asia and Pacific operations on a regular basis. The 306 BW provided men and B-52s to form part of the 4047 SW deployed in Guam, Andersen AFB, and Okinawa, Kadena Air Base to support the Vietnam conflict, in 1966, September, supporting projects "Young Tiger" and "Arc Light". Later on they would fly out of U-Tapao Royal Thai Airfield, Thailand, and would be part of the bombing raids Linebacker I and Linebacker II over North Vietnam. Andersen Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... Kadena Air Base is the largest American airbase in Asia. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... U-Tapao International Airport is one of the important international airports under supervision of the Royal Thai Navys Naval Air Division Commander. ... Operation Linebacker was the name of a United States military operation during the Vietnam War. ... Operation Linebacker II was a United States military operation during the Vietnam War. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the...

When not in Vietnam the Wing flew again out of McCoy, and in January 1968 received another OUC for this "double-duty". The 306th BW returned to McCoy from its Southeast Asia deployment in early 1973. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

From 1971 through 1973 other training activities at McCoy included KC-135Q instruction by the 306th Air Refueling Squadron and KC-135A instruction by the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

In 1971 the 42d Air Division, was headquartered at McCoy. In September 1973 It was transferred to Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Blytheville Air Force Base, now the site of the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport, has had a long and important history. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ...

In 1973, it was announced that McCoy AFB would be closed. Inactivation of the 306th Bombardment Wing began in 1973 and was completed in July 1974. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Current Uses

A major portion of the former McCoy AFB is currently owned by the city of Orlando and used for the Orlando International Airport. Most of the former air field is now the Orlando International Airport.

The portion of the site transferred to private individuals and companies is being used for aviation related activities in support of the airport. The US Navy controls a part of the site for an administrative and housing area.

The majority of the former McCoy AFB has been subjected to extensive modification due to the addition of new structures, taxiways, or runways. In addition, the remaining lands have been subjected to extensive evacuation, landfill and improvement activities.

External links

• 19th Bombardment Wing

• 306th Bombardment Wing

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