Complex sentence: Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy, was appointed commander of the 321st Bombardment Wing on 24 May 1954, having earned the unofficial distinction of being the "dean" of the Strategic Air Command's B-47 "Stratojet" aircraft commanders.
Split into simpler sentences: Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy, was appointed commander of the 321st Bombardment Wing on 24 May 1954. He earned the distinction of being the "dean" of the Strategic Air Command's B-47 "Stratojet" aircraft commanders.