Cannon Air Force Base

Coordinates: 34°22′58″N 103°19′20″W / 34.38278°N 103.32222°W / 34.38278; -103.32222
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cannon Air Force Base
Near
United States of America
Cannon is located in North America
Cannon
Cannon
Cannon is located in the United States
Cannon
Cannon
Cannon is located in New Mexico
Cannon
Cannon
Coordinates34°22′58″N 103°19′20″W / 34.38278°N 103.32222°W / 34.38278; -103.32222
TypeUS Air Force base
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUS Air Force
Controlled byAir Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.cannon.af.mil
Site history
Built1942 (1942) (as Army Air Base Clovis)
In use1942 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Colonel Jeremy Bergin
Garrison27th Special Operations Wing
Occupants
Airfield information
Identifiers
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22 3,049 metres (10,003 ft) Concrete
13/31 2,498 metres (8,196 ft) 
PEM
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base, located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. The host unit at Cannon is the 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW) also known as "The Steadfast Line".[2] It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) which activated at the base on 1 October 2007. The 27 SOW plans and executes specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate and resupply special operations forces (SOF) and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and close air support in support of SOF operations.

A variety of special operations aircraft are stationed at Cannon, including the

CV-22 Osprey and U-28
Draco.

The Steadfast Line

The 27 SOW traces its lineage to the 27 Bombardment Group from World War II. After their aircraft were destroyed when attacked in the Philippines, the Airmen of the 27th Bomb Group was converted into the 1st Provisional Air Corps Regiment (Infantry). 

These men became legacy pathfinders -- the first generation of multi-capable Airmen, adapting and overcoming unprecedented battlefield challenges. They salvaged machine guns and cannons from crippled aircraft to fortify American fighting positions and vehicles with heavy weaponry.

Although they lacked formal infantry training, they quickly adapted, training alongside Army Infantry counterparts while under fire to become a staunch fighting force. Two battalions of maintenance, ordnance, intelligence, ground staff, and aircrew Airmen bravely held the left flank of the US Army’s II Corps throughout the defense of Bataan, even escaping encirclement in the final battles, earning them the moniker “The Steadfast Line.” [3]

Previous Airfield Names

  • Army Air Base, Clovis, 25 September 1942 (establishment)-7 April 1943
  • Clovis Army Airfield, 8 April 1943 – 12 January 1948
  • Clovis Air Force Base, 13 January 1948 – 7 June 1957
  • Cannon Air Force Base, 8 June 1957–present

Cannon Air Force Base is named in honor of General John K. Cannon (1892–1955).

Airline service

The history of the base began in the late 1920s, when a civilian passenger facility, Portair Field, was established on the site.

Clovis was a stop on the first coast to coast "air/rail" service between

TWA) while Western Air Express would eventually once again regain its status as an independent air carrier and then subsequently be renamed Western Airlines
. In later years, both TWA and Western evolved into major airlines operating extensive domestic and international route systems.

In 1948 a new carrier,

Las Cruces, NM. This second route crossed at Clovis with the initial route between Albuquerque and Dallas which resulted in Clovis being a small hub for Pioneer Airlines where passengers were then able to connect between the two routes. Initially the airline used 21-seat Douglas DC-3 twin prop aircraft but then upgraded to the 36-seat Martin 2-0-2
twin prop aircraft in 1952.

In 1955 Pioneer was acquired by and merged into

Waco, TX - Dallas Love Field - Fort Worth - Abilene - Lubbock - Clovis - Santa Fe - Albuquerque flight.[6][7] According to the September 27, 1959 Continental Airlines timetable, a Viscount propjet was being operated on a daily roundtrip routing of Albuquerque (ABQ) - Santa Fe (SAF) - Clovis (CVS) - Lubbock (LBB) - Abilene (ABI) - Fort Worth (via Greater Southwest International Airport) (GSW) - Dallas Love Field (DAL).[8][9]

The

Carlsbad, NM.[10]
In 1978, Texas International reverted to using Convair 600 propjets via the Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN).

World War II

Clovis Army Airfield – 1943

After the United States entered

B-24 Liberator
bomber crews for Europe. The 16th Bomb Wing arrived in January 1943.

By mid-1946, the airfield was placed on reduced operational status due to postwar funding cutbacks and decreased flying activities. On 16 October 1946, the 234th AAFBU was inactivated and on 1 November 1946, the airfield was placed under the administrative control of

Colorado Springs Army Air Base
, Colorado. Clovis AAF was placed on temporarily inactive status on 28 May 1947.

Cold War

With the establishment of the

Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, using the airfield as a deployment facility for the group's B-29s. Clovis AAF was renamed "Clovis Air Force Base" on 13 January 1948. However, with no funds to host an active Strategic Air Command
(SAC) bomb wing, Clovis AFB was placed on reserve/standby status on 1 July 1948. Its caretaker unit was the 234th Air Force Base Unit.

474th Tactical Fighter Wing Commanders' F-100D Super Sabre at Cannon AFB during the 1950s.
474th Tactical Fighter Wing Commanders' F-100D Super Sabre at Cannon AFB during the 1950s

Clovis AFB remained on standby status until 1 April 1950 when jurisdiction was transferred from SAC to

Reese AFB, Texas on 12 May 1950, while construction ensued to bring the base up to USAF standards. Plans were made to make Clovis AFB a contract flying training facility, however, the advent of the Korean War changed the USAF's plans for Clovis and jurisdiction was transferred to Tactical Air Command
(TAC) as a fighter base on 23 July 1951.

The first USAF unit to use Clovis AFB was the

140th Fighter-Bomber Wing (140th FBW), which arrived in October 1951 after being activated due to the Korean War. The 140th FBW was a composite unit, made up of elements from the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming Air National Guards
.

From the early 1970s to the early 1990s Cannon AFB was the sole operator of the

terrain following radar
. To obtain crew practice dropping ordinance, the F-111s used the nearby Melrose bomb range.

21st century

On 13 May 2005, the

F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft. The USAF had until 31 December 2009 to propose a new use for Cannon AFB, otherwise the base would be closed in 2010.[11] Cannon AFB attempted to reopen a rejected EIS alternative, by substituting an Environmental Assessment. Comments were accepted through 4 October 2010.[12]

On 20 June 2006, it was announced that Cannon AFB would transfer from

CV-22 Osprey and AC-130H Spectre
were assigned to the new wing at Cannon.

In 2023, the FW1 Ute Reservoir pipeline project started construction to provide potable water by 2030 for Cannon Air Force Base and the communities of Clovis, Portales, Elida, Texico.[13]

Role and operations

CV-22 Osprey of the 27th Operations Wing

Base units include:

One of four groups assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing. The group accomplishes global special operations taskings as a USAF component member of the United States Special Operations Command. It conducts infiltration/ exfiltration, combat support, helicopter, and tilt-rotor aerial refueling, psychological warfare, and other special missions. It directs the deployment, employment, training, and planning for seven squadrons that operate the CV-22 Osprey, AC-130W Stinger II, MC-130J,
MQ-9 Reaper
, and various light and medium transport aviation.
  • 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group
Composed of the 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 27th Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron, 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron and the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Operations Squadron. There is approximately 420 personnel assigned to the group. The 27 SOMXG vision of "The Power in Airpower!" is accomplished daily through innovation, teamwork, integrity and professionalism. The group supports the aircraft of the 27th Special Operations Wing through integrated maintenance support of the AFSOC mission. The 27 SOMXG maintains weapon systems, equipment and vehicles; sustains combat readiness; manages maintenance resources; and provides maintenance services. Most importantly, they prepare, support and execute contingency plans for worldwide mobilization, deployment and employment of wing aircraft.
  • 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group
Provides base support and services activities to ensure mission readiness of the 27th Special Operations Wing, including housing, facility construction and maintenance, food service, law enforcement, fire protection, communications, personnel support, lodging, recreation, environmental management, contracting, supply, transportation, logistics plans and other base services.
  • 27th Special Operations Medical Group
Provides base medical services activities to ensure mission readiness of the 27th Special Operations Wing.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Cannon Air Force Base.[14]

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Cannon, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

Current United States Air Force

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)


Previous operating units


Geography and demographics

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP portion of the base has a total area of 5.3 square miles (14 km2), of which, 5.3 square miles (14 km2) is land and 0.19% is water.

As of the census

Latino
of any race.

There were 921 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.

On the base the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 52.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 0.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 153.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 171.4 males.

The median income for a household on the base was $18,465, and the median income for a family was $25,573. Males had a median income of $15,546 versus $14,635 for females. The per capita income for the base was $11,562. 12.0% of the population and 11.5% of families were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older.

Environmental contamination

In 2021 the Air Force was looking to see if the community was interested in establishing a

environmental restoration activities, especially given Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination. The commander concluded there was not enough interest in forming a RAB, as only 4 people were willing to serve.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Airport Diagram – Cannon AFB (KCVS)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Home". www.cannon.af.mil. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  3. ^ "The Steadfast Line".
  4. ^ Sept. 11, 1929 Transcontinental Air Transport system timetable (including connecting railroad schedules)
  5. ^ https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/co/co58/co58-1.jpg [bare URL image file]
  6. ^ https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/co/co55/co55-3.jpg [bare URL image file]
  7. ^ https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/co/co55/co55-4.jpg [bare URL image file]
  8. ^ https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/co/co59/co59-7.jpg [bare URL image file]
  9. ^ https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/co/co59/co59-6.jpg [bare URL image file]
  10. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, March 15, 1978 Texas International system timetable, Clovis flight schedules
  11. ^ Globalsecurity.org: Cannon AFB, New Mexico. Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Cultural Energy - Media Voices of Northern New Mexico". www.culturalenergy.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Eastern New Mexico celebrates groundbreaking of FW1 Ute Reservoir pipeline project". KVII TV 7. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Units". Cannon AFB. US Air Force. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  16. ^ DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 27TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING (AFSOC) CANNON AIR FORCE BASE NEW MEXICO (19 August 2021). "MEMORANDUM FOR RECORDEstablishment of a Restoration Advisory Board" (PDF). Retrieved 6 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Other sources

External links

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