McCoy Air Force Base

McCoy Air Force Base
Part of Strategic Air Command
Orlando, Florida
Boeing B-52D-40-BW Stratofortress, AF Serial No. 56-0687, on display at B-52 Memorial Park, Orlando International Airport, Florida (Ex-McCoy AFB). Photo taken 4 April 2003.
McCoy AFB is located in Florida
McCoy AFB
McCoy AFB
Coordinates28°25′46″N 081°18′32″W / 28.42944°N 81.30889°W / 28.42944; -81.30889
TypeAir Force Base
Site history
Built1940
In use1940–1975

McCoy AFB (1940–1947, 1951–1975) is a former U.S. Air Force installation located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Orlando, Florida. It was a training base during World War II. From 1951 to 1975, it was a frontline Strategic Air Command (SAC) base during the Cold War and Vietnam War. It was Orlando's biggest employer and economic backbone prior to the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971.

With McCoy's closure as an active USAF facility in 1975, the site was redeveloped and is known today as Orlando International Airport, which continues to carry the base's original FAA LID airport code of MCO (i.e., McCoy) and ICAO airport code of KMCO.

Over the course of its existence the installation had several names, including Orlando Army Air Field #2, Pinecastle Army Airfield, and Pinecastle Air Force Base.