George McCoy, Jr., was born on March 31, 1904, at Napavine, Washington. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Infantry, on June 14, 1927.
SERVICE
From June 1927 to September 1929 he was on duty with the 7th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He was detailed to the Air Corps Primary Flying School, Brooks Field, Texas, in September 1929 and following his graduation in June 1930 he proceeded to Kelly Field, Texas, where he was graduated from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in October 1930. He then was assigned to the 41st School Squadron, at Kelly Field, Texas, for a brief tour of duty, following which he proceeded to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, for duty with an Attack Squadron in February 1931.
Returning to the United States, he was ordered to Fort Crockett, Texas and in July 1933 joined the 90th Attack Squadron. He received advanced navigation training at Rockwell Field, California, from October to December 1933, and upon completion of the course rejoined the 90th Attack Squadron at Fort Crockett, Texas. He subsequently moved with the 90th Attack Squadron to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and in July 1935 was named Commanding Officer of the 90th Attack Squadron.
He was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in June 1937. The following July he proceeded to Selfridge Field, Michigan, to join the 17th Pursuit Squadron as Operations and Intelligence Officer. In September 1937 he was designated Base Marine and Motor Transportation Officer at Selfridge Field, Michigan. In July 1938 he became Post Exchange Officer at Selfridge Field. In July 1940 he became Officer in Charge, Base Flight Section, 3rd Air Base Group at Selfridge Field, serving in that capacity until the following September when he was named Commanding Officer, 1st Material Squadron, 3rd Air Base Group at Selfridge Field.
He was assigned as Commanding Officer, 50th Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, in January 1941. The following May he became Commanding Officer, 49th Pursuit Group, III Interceptor Command at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida. In March 1942 he was named Chief, Aircraft Division, Directorate of War Organization and Movement, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., where he served until May 1943 when he was sent overseas as Commanding Officer, XIII Air Force Service Command, located in the Southwest Pacific.
In September 1944 he returned to the United States and became Chief, Commitments Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations, Commitments and Requirements, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C. In August 1945 he was made Chief of Staff of the Sixth Air Force and, later, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Caribbean Air Command, Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone.
On February 1, 1946, he reverted to major and was promoted to colonel, A.U.S., on the same day.
In January 1949 he was named Deputy Commander of March AFB, California. He then held dual command of the 22d Bombardment Wing and the 1st Fighter Wing at March AFB from June to August 1949. He served again as Deputy Commander of March AFB, until being named Commander of the 1st Fighter Wing at March AFB in February 1950. He moved with his wing to George AFB, California, in July 1950, serving concurrently as Base Commander.
Colonel McCoy died on October 16, 1950, in the crash of a T-33 aircraft near Aurora, Oregon.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, July 2, 1923; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, June 14, 1927; Air Corps, October 15, 1929; transferred to Air Corps, December 11, 1930; First Lieutenant, February 21, 1933; Captain (temporary), April 20, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Captain, June 14, 1937; Major (temporary), December 30, 1940; Major, A.U.S., January 31, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., April 19, 1943; Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 11, 1943; Major, June 14, 1944; vacated Brigadier General, A.U.S., January 31, 1946; Colonel, A.U.S., March 1, 1942; Colonel, April 2, 1948.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Air Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1944 with the following citation:
“Brigadier General George McCoy, Jr., O-16793 (then colonel, Air Corps), United States Army. For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from 29 November 1941 to 20 April 1943. As Chief of the Aircraft Division of the Directorate of War Organization and Movement, Headquarters Army Air Forces, General McCoy demonstrated outstanding qualities of initiative, zeal, and aggressiveness in the accomplishment of a most difficult mission. He was charged with the responsibility of controlling the assignment and shipment of all United States airplanes to using organizations as rapidly as possible. In order to carry out this arduous assignment during a period of unprecedented expansion it was necessary to simplify methods and procedures for control of aircraft movement. General McCoy’s outstanding devotion to duty and his ability to think clearly and act aggressively when constant pressure was being exerted from all sides for much needed equipment contributed materially to the solution of one of the vital problems of the war effort.”