McCoy Air Force Base
Timeline




To go to a certain year click on the appropriate link below:

1900-1939
1940-1949
1950-1959
1960-1969
1970-1979



1900-1939:

Date
Event
Source
9-Oct-05
Micheal Norman Wright McCoy is Born in Orleans, Indiana.
1
Page 2
1-Jan-39
Wilson Lancaster buys 3,000 acres NE of Boggy Creek Rd. for $3.00/acre
??

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1940-1949:

Date
Event
Source
1941
McCoy joins the Royal Canadian Air Force. Served as a ferry pilot and instructor.
1
Page 2
1942
McCoy transfers as a Captain to the U.S. Army Air Corps.
1
Page 2
1942
Developent of Orlando Army Airfield #2 begins. Will support training efforts of Orlando Army Airfield 6 miles to the north. Will later be named Pinecastle Army Airfield.
1
Page 4
June 1945
Col. McCoy flies 22 missions in B-29 Superfortresses over Japan.
1
Page 2

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1950-1959:

Date
Event
Source
1950
Col. McCoy pioneers a 42-hour flight from the U.S. to Hawaii and back, non-stop, in a B-50. Flight proves the feasibility of an around the world flight in a bomber.
1
Page 2
June 1951
$30.5 million construction project in support of base reactivation begun.
3
Article
23 Oct 1951
Col. McCoy pilots first operational B-47 from Wichita, Kansas to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida. Bomber is the first for the U.S. Air Force and the 306th Bombardment Wing. The 306th BW is the first B-47 wing and is commanded by Col. McCoy.
7
Page 37
April 1952
Pinecastle Air Force Base Reactivated. Returns to service after 6 years.
1
Page 4
1 April 1952
Crew Training Air Force(CTAF) Activated. Conducts training program to qualify personnel in the use of fighter interceptor and bomber aircraft as combat weopons.
5
Article
16 Aug 1952
Announcement that B-47's coming to Pincastle AFB by the end of the year to support crew training was made by Maj. Gen. J.K. Lacey, Commanding General CTAF, and Col. Tom Scott, Deputy to Commanding General FTAF.
5
Article
6 Nov 1952
First B-47 arrives at Pinecastle Air Force Base.
2
Page 8
18 Dec 1952
First B-47 crew training program activated at Pinecastle.
2
Page 8
15 Dec 1953
The 321st Bombardment Wing (Medium) is activated at Pinecastle AFB.
1
Page 4
1 Jan 1954
Pinecaste AFB comes under control of the Strategic Air Command, taking control from the training command.
2
Page 8
24 May 1954
Colonel Micheal N.W. McCoy is Appointed commander of the 321st Bombardment Wing.
1
Page 4
Jun 1954
321st Bombardment Wing deemed fully operational for combat. Wing and McCoy take over base from Training Command.
1
Page 4
July 1954
Pinecastle AFB receives permanent status. Allows for permanent or "life expectancy" construction instead of temporary.
1
Page 4
July 1954
19th Bombardment Wing joins 321st Bomb Wing at Pincastle AFB. Pinecastle and both wings come under control of the 813th Air Division commanded by Brigadier General Keith K. Compton.
1
Page 4
November 1954
The 307th Air Refueling Squadron based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama is assigned to support the 321st Bomb Wing. The unit flies the KC-97.
1
Page 4
19 Nov 1954
Announcement made that the 321st BW, led by Colonel Micheal N.W. McCoy, will deploy to England for a 90 day training mission. Brigadier General Keith K. Compton, 813th Air Division Commander made the announcement at a luncheon following a christening ceremony for Col. McCoy's B-47 the "City of Orlando" and a parade review by the men of the 321st Bombardment Wing(Medium).
6
Article
December 1954
The history, battle honors and colors from the 321st Bombardment Group and the 340th Bombardment Group were bestowed on the 321st Bomb Wing.
1
Page 5
December 1954
The 321st Bomb Wing is declared combat ready. Flies it's first overseas deployment to Brize Norton Air Base, England. Deployment force includes 45 B-47's and 21 KC-97's.
1
Page 5
May 1955
The 321st Bomb Wing flies it's first Bomber Stream mission.
1
Page 5
September 1955
The 321st Bomb Wing flies it's first SAC evaluation mission. Wing accomplishes 52% of SAC Regulation 50-8 requirements.
1
Page 5
November 1955
Wing achieves incredible 99.1% fulfillment of SAC 50-8 requirements; an all time record.
1
Page 5
March 1956
Wing accomplishes 100% 50-8 requirements. Breaks record set in Nov 55.
1
Page 5
April 1956
321st Bomb Wing carries out it's second overseas deployment to Sidi Slimane, French Morocco.
1
Page 5
Summer 1956
813th Air Division Deactivated. 19th Bomb Wing relocates to Homestead AFB. Base once again comes under control of the 321st Bomb Wing and Col. McCoy. As part of the change, the 813th Air Base Group becomes the 321st Air Base Group.
2
Page 8
September 1956
Second Strategic Support Squadron commanded by Lt. Col. Vernon Q. Mullin calls Pinecastle AFB home. Unit flies the C-124 Globemaster.
1
Page 4
August 1954
Wing gains noteriety for the longest point to point scheuled B-47 flight. The flight, which originated in Gaum, flew over Japan, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and Canada enroute to Morocco. The flights duration was 22 hours and 50 minutes.
1
Page 4
November 1957
The 76th Fighter Interceptor Squadron arrives at Pincastle. Squadron is part of the Air Defense Command and flies the F-89 Scorpion Aircraft.
1
Page 4
November 1957
Pinecastle AFB plays host to the medium bomber participants of the Strategic Air Command Bombing, Navigation and Reconnaisance Competition.
1
Page 4
7 May 1958
Pinecastle Air Force Base renamed McCoy Air Force Base in memory of Colonel Micheal Norman Wright McCoy.
1
Page 4
21 May 1958
Dedication Ceremony to rename Pinecastle Air Force Base held. McCoy Air Force Base hosts open house in conjunction with ceremony. Estimated attendance is 30,000 people.
1
Page 4

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1960-1969:

Date
Event
Source
Summer 1961
The first B-52 Stratofortresses arrive at McCoy AFB. Bombers will become part of the recently activated 4047th Strategic Wing.
2
Page 8

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1970-1979:

Date
Event
Source
9-Oct-05
Micheal Norman Wright McCoy is Born in Orleans, Indiana.
1
1-Jan-39
Wilson Lancaster buys 3,000 acres NE of Boggy Creek Rd. for $3.00/acre
1

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