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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL JOHN LOUIS MCCOY |
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MAJOR GENERAL JOHN LOUIS MCCOY
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Retired Aug. 1, 1969.
Died Sep. 29, 2002.
Maj. Gen. John Louis McCoy is director, plans and programs, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
General McCoy was born in Garden City, Kan., in 1914. He graduated from Liberty High School, Pratt, Kan., in 1933, and attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., for one year. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1935 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry upon graduation in 1939.
He was detailed to duty with the Air Corps for pilot training at Tulsa, Okla., Randolph and Kelly fields, Texas. After receiving his wings and transfer to the Air Corps in 1940, his duties during the next five years included pilot instructor, Randolph Field; squadron commander, Waco, Texas; director of flying, Coffeyville, Kan.; and director of training and operations, Goodfellow Field, Texas.
In 1945, General McCoy was operations officer, then deputy group commander of a Guam-based B-29 group. He later served as chief of supply for Guam Air Depot.
Returning to the United States in 1947, General McCoy's duty station was MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., where he held positions as supply squadron commander, and materiel officer of the 307th Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command.
He accompanied the wing to Okinawa in August 1950 when five B-29 groups moved into Okinawa and Yokota, Japan, to form the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command in support of the Korean War. He completed that tour in Yokota as operations officer of the command, flew 29 combat missions, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Director of materiel, Headquarters Second Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., was General McCoy's position from January 1953, until he entered the National War College in August 1954. After graduation in June 1955, he was assigned to the Air Research and Development Command's Directorate of Systems Management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. During his five years there, General McCoy initiated new concepts of management which led to successful transition from conventional to supersonic weapon systems, including the B-58, the F-106 and the Falcon missile.
He also established a system of integration of functions which resulted in more efficient coordination between the Air Research and Development Command and other major commands. For this, he was awarded the Air Force Legion of Merit.
In 1959 General McCoy was transferred to the Ballistic Missile Division of ARDC. From January 1960 until the formation of AFSC in 1961, he was the deputy for ballistic missiles. In 1961 he was named program director for the Titan ICBM, holding that position through its transition from development to the operational phase.
From August 1963 until he assumed command of BSD, in August 1966, General McCoy was program director for the Minuteman ICBM weapon system, responsible for its development, production and turn-over to SAC.
The general's decorations include Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal with oak leaf cluster.
(Current as of Oct. 15, 1966)
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