<P> During World War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Orlando Army Air Base and nearby Pinecastle Army Air Field . Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families . In 1956 the aerospace and defense company Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) established a plant in the city . Orlando AAB and Pinecastle AAF were transferred to the United States Air Force in 1947 when it became a separate service and were re-designated as air force bases (AFB). In 1958, Pinecastle AFB was renamed McCoy Air Force Base after Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy, a former commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing at the installation, killed in the crash of a B - 47 Stratojet bomber north of Orlando . In the 1960s, the base subsequently became home to the 306th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), operating B - 52 Stratofortress and KC - 135 Stratotanker aircraft, in addition to detachment operations by EC - 121 and U-2 aircraft . </P> <P> In 1968, Orlando AFB was transferred to the United States Navy and became Naval Training Center Orlando . In addition to boot camp facilities, NTC Orlando was home of one of two Navy Nuclear Power Schools, and home of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division . When McCoy AFB closed in 1975, its runways and territory to its south and east were imparted to the city to become Orlando International Airport, while a small portion to the northwest was transferred to the Navy as McCoy NTC Annex . That closed in 1996, and became housing, though the former McCoy AFB still hosts a Navy Exchange, as well as National Guard and Reserve units for several branches of service . NTC Orlando was closed in 1993 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, and converted into the Baldwin Park neighborhood . The Naval Air Warfare Center had moved to Central Florida Research Park near UCF in 1988 . </P> <P> Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World . Although Disney had considered the regions of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate there was due to hurricanes--Orlando's inland location, although not free from hurricane damage, exposed it to less threat than coastal regions . The vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties . As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy . Orlando now has more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world . </P> <P> Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1962, when the new Orlando Jetport, the precursor of the present day Orlando International Airport, was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base . By 1970, four major airlines (Delta Air Lines, National Airlines, Eastern Airlines and Southern Airways) were providing scheduled flights . McCoy Air Force Base officially closed in 1975, and most of it is now part of the airport . The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO). </P>

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