Bidspirit auction | Col. Michael McCoy Trunk Group

Col. Michael McCoy Trunk Group ”The Real McCoy!” - Note: Pickup/Transport required. Contacts available post auction. This is the Real McCoy! This is an extraordinary, historically significant archive belonging to Colonel Michael N.W. ”Mike” McCoy, a legendary figure in the Strategic Air Command and the namesake of McCoy Air Force Base. He was arguably the face of the Strategic Air Command during the transition into the jet age. The Legacy of ”The Real McCoy” Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy was a ”pilot's pilot,” a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross who became famous for his record-breaking long-range flights. The B-47 Stratojet. ”The Real McCoy”, was his signature aircraft. On October 9, 1957, while McCoy was commanding the 321st Bombardment Wing, he was involved in a tragic accident. During a practice flight for the upcoming Strategic Air Command bombing and navigation competition, his B-47 experienced a catastrophic structural failure and crashed in a residential area of Orlando, Florida. McCoy and his crew were killed. The impact of his death on the community and the Air Force was so profound that Pinecastle Air Force Base was renamed McCoy Air Force Base in 1958 (now part of Orland International Airport “MCO”). The centerpiece is his original aluminum military flight trunk, stenciled with his name and the ”321st Med Bomb Wing.” Inside is a profound collection of his life and legacy: numerous original photographs (including shots of McCoy in his B-47 ”The Real McCoy”), a 1956 memorandum from General Curtis E. LeMay, personal hand-written reflections, and press clippings. Most poignantly, the set includes his burial flag, telegrams of condolence to his widow, and the 1958 dedication ceremony program for the renaming of Pinecastle AFB to McCoy AFB following his tragic 1957 crash. This is a ”time capsule” of Cold War aviation history. The trunk shows expected field wear with scuffs and oxidation; paper ephemera and photographs vary from excellent to showing minor age-toning and edge wear; the burial flag remains folded and well-preserved. Trunk dimensions: H 13”, W 31”, D 17”. Please see photos.