DOW-UAP-D180: Howard M. McCoy personnel and retirement file
Howard M. McCoy’s 298-page personnel file follows his flying and engineering training, propeller work, wartime technical intelligence and later physical-security assignments. It includes his account of the Science Survey Office, charters and closure of the Physical Security Equipment Agency, and competing recommendations on his 1954 retirement. Commendations sit alongside criticism of administration and costs. Later filing and casualty records extend beyond the catalogued service years; the file does not establish extraterrestrial recovery work.
- File
- Document · Release 07
- Date
- Aug 31, 1954
- Extent
- 298 pages
- Agency
- Department of War
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Probed Assessment
The personnel record documents McCoy’s technical-intelligence and security-equipment career, with both strong praise and administrative criticism.
Key takeaways
- Caltech doctoral candidacy is explicitly distinguished from an earned doctorate.
- McCoy describes the Science Survey Office as developing classified security and investigative equipment.
- PSEA’s charters and abolition directive concern physical security and investigative tools.
- Competing retirement recommendations and limited-observation ratings require a balanced reading.
Why it matters
This record anchors McCoy’s assignments and institutional responsibilities in contemporaneous personnel documents and his own retirement argument.
Corroboration
Signed evaluations, charters and orders support administrative history. McCoy’s statements about institutional needs and the reasons for closure remain his account. Blank form choices and mirrored reverse-side text are not additional findings.
Open questions
- • What detailed operational records survive for the Science Survey Office?
- • What official rationale accompanied PSEA’s closure beyond this directive?
- • Was the proposed civilian security service subsequently established?
Probed separates this editorial assessment from the source claims below. It summarizes what the released artifact supports; it is not independent verification.
Official Description from War.gov
This file contains the final personnel record of U.S. Air Force officer Howard M. McCoy, who left service as a Colonel, a senior field-grade officer responsible for significant operational and administrative duties. From December 1946 to August 1949, Colonel McCoy served as Deputy Commanding General for Intelligence (T-2), and later as Chief of the Intelligence Department, Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, at what is now known as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During his tenure, the Air Force initiated two significant studies centering on unidentified anomalous phenomena: Project SIGN and Project GRUDGE. He was among the senior Air Force intelligence officers involved in the early design, administration, and execution of those programs.
Preserved verbatim as source metadata. This wording is separate from Probed’s file-specific description and assessment.
File Context
Related entities
Tracker findings
McCoy’s record supports a master’s degree and doctoral candidacy
McCoy’s 1940 Caltech letter records a 1935 master’s degree and later doctoral candidacy, while explicitly stating that he would receive no degree that school year.
Wartime commendation concerned propeller engineering
Franklin O. Carroll’s December 1943 evaluation describes McCoy as highly qualified in theoretical and practical aircraft-propeller work.
Bronze Star citation concerned German V-weapon intelligence
The Bronze Star citation credits McCoy’s European technical service with exploiting enemy research and obtaining information on German V-1 and V-2 weapons.
Putt criticized unfinished projects in 1946
Donald Putt’s December 1946 report praises McCoy’s engineering ability but criticizes starting projects without completion and insufficient familiarity with divisional operations.
Twining’s 1947 appraisal mixed praise and reservations
Twining’s June 1947 report identifies McCoy as Deputy Commanding General for Intelligence, T-2, and praises his handling of the assignment while noting that his enthusiasm could irritate others.
McCoy’s command supported investigative training
A March 1949 commendation thanks McCoy’s command for assistance to special-investigations training and names lectures on sound equipment and investigative photography.
CIA’s Chadwell corresponded about scientific intelligence
Chadwell’s March 14, 1951 CIA assessment praises McCoy’s intelligence knowledge and initiative but says his position did not involve personnel supervision or administrative detail.
The PSEA charter was later abolished
Defense Directive 5154.9 abolished PSEA on March 4, 1954 and directed orderly disposition of its records, equipment, facilities and personnel.
McCoy described the reason for closure as his own surmise
McCoy explicitly labels economy as his surmise about PSEA’s abolition because no reason had been stated; the file does not establish that explanation as an official finding.
Retirement recommendations conflicted
One retirement memorandum recommends denial because McCoy’s overall record indicated sufficient potential for continued Air Force value.
Approved memorandum criticized his contribution
The approved August 26, 1954 memorandum instead judges his future utility limited and recommends voluntary retirement in the Air Force’s interest.
Carroll said he lacked a basis to assess McCoy
Carroll’s March 1954 evaluation declines a concrete job-performance rating because PSEA’s uncertain standby status and lack of clear responsibilities limited observation.
Release provenance
- Release
- Release 07
- Official ID
- release-07-file-026-dow-uap-d180-final-personnel-record-for-mccoy-howard-m-u-s-air-force-1954
- Cleared
- Oct 23, 2026
Referenced Timeline
Commission and active service begin
The service statement records a continuous commission from this date.
Advanced flying course completed
The faculty board recommended an airplane-pilot rating after the pursuit course.
Engineering school completed
The record documents completion of the general aeronautical engineering course.
Caltech course explained
McCoy distinguished doctoral candidacy from receiving a degree.
Air Documents Division evaluation
Putt recorded both technical strengths and organizational criticisms.
T-2 evaluation
Twining assessed McCoy as his intelligence deputy.
Special-investigations training commended
Carroll thanked the command for training assistance.
Industrial College academic report
The report documents successful completion of Economic Mobilization.
CIA efficiency report
Chadwell recorded his assessment of McCoy’s intelligence assignment.
PSEA abolished
Directive 5154.9 ordered termination and disposition of agency resources.
Voluntary retirement approved
The personnel council approved the retirement recommendation.
Retirement effective
The military-service statement records the end of active service.
Source Claims
Claims are attributed to the released source and remain distinct from Probed’s assessment and tracker findings.
The service statement records McCoy’s continuous commission and active duty from June 12, 1930 until retirement on August 31, 1954.
12 June 1930 to 31 August 1954
The October 1931 faculty board found McCoy qualified after the advanced flying school pursuit course and recommended an airplane-pilot rating.
pursuit
McCoy’s 1940 Caltech letter records a 1935 master’s degree and later doctoral candidacy, while explicitly stating that he would receive no degree that school year.
Hence no degree will be received.
The engineering-school record says McCoy completed general aeronautical engineering on July 31, 1936 with a superior academic rating.
His academic rating is superior.
Franklin O. Carroll’s December 1943 evaluation describes McCoy as highly qualified in theoretical and practical aircraft-propeller work.
in all phases of aircraft propeller problems from both theoretical and practical.
The Bronze Star citation credits McCoy’s European technical service with exploiting enemy research and obtaining information on German V-1 and V-2 weapons.
V-2
Donald Putt’s December 1946 report praises McCoy’s engineering ability but criticizes starting projects without completion and insufficient familiarity with divisional operations.
His weakness lies in the initiation of many projects without
Twining’s June 1947 report identifies McCoy as Deputy Commanding General for Intelligence, T-2, and praises his handling of the assignment while noting that his enthusiasm could irritate others.
Deputy CG, Intelligence
In his retirement statement, McCoy says he managed the Science Survey Office during his December 1946–August 1949 intelligence assignment, developing classified security and investigative equipment.
specialized laboratory known as the Science Survey Office (SSO)
The attached June 1949 Science Survey Office directive gives only a terse classified mission; it does not describe a recovered-craft program.
Perform the classifted functions as prescribed.
A March 1949 commendation thanks McCoy’s command for assistance to special-investigations training and names lectures on sound equipment and investigative photography.
Sound Equipment
Chadwell’s March 14, 1951 CIA assessment praises McCoy’s intelligence knowledge and initiative but says his position did not involve personnel supervision or administrative detail.
he was not assigned to a position requiring the handling of
The PSEA charter provides for experimental prototype physical-security and investigative equipment, service-test quantities, manuals, training and support to other agencies.
Experimentally produce prototype physical security equipment
Defense Directive 5154.9 abolished PSEA on March 4, 1954 and directed orderly disposition of its records, equipment, facilities and personnel.
The Physical Security Equipment Agency
McCoy explicitly labels economy as his surmise about PSEA’s abolition because no reason had been stated; the file does not establish that explanation as an official finding.
Although there was no stated reason, it is surmised
McCoy’s retirement statement proposes an Industrial Security Engineering Service after informal consultations; the proposal is not proof that the organization was subsequently established.
for the formation of an Industrial Security Engineering Service (ISES)
One retirement memorandum recommends denial because McCoy’s overall record indicated sufficient potential for continued Air Force value.
his overall military record indicates he possesses sufficient potential
The approved August 26, 1954 memorandum instead judges his future utility limited and recommends voluntary retirement in the Air Force’s interest.
he has reached or passed the peak of his effectiveness
Carroll’s March 1954 evaluation declines a concrete job-performance rating because PSEA’s uncertain standby status and lack of clear responsibilities limited observation.
severely handicapped by lack of a clear-cut mission
The 1949 appraisal continuation criticizes overlooking dollar costs and says higher management had to scrutinize administration and control.
forget or overlook the dollar costs
Source Material & Evidence
Research Map
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