Cannon Air Force Base

Airfield information
Airfield information
	IATA: CVS; ICAO: KCVS; FAA LID: CVS;
Summary
Elevation AMSL	4,295 ft / 1,309 m
Coordinates	34°22′58″N 103°19′20″W / 34.38278°N 103.32222°WCoordinates: 34°22′58″N 103°19′20″W / 34.38278°N 103.32222°W
Website	www.cannon.af.mil
Map
	KCVS Location of Cannon Air Force Base
Runways
	Sources: official web site and FAA

Cannon AFB
Cannon Air Force Base; Clovis Air Force Base/AAF
	Part of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
	Located near: Clovis, New Mexico
	16th Special Operations Squadron AC-130H Spectre Gunship
Coordinates	34°22′58″N 103°19′20″W / 34.38278°N 103.32222°W
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1942
In use	1942 – present
Garrison information
Garrison	27th Special Operations Wing

Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The population of the Cannon AFB CDP was 2,245 as of the 2010 census. The host unit at Cannon is the 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW), which activated on 1 October 2007, and is assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). 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.

Cannon AFB was established in 1942 as Army Air Base, Clovis. The commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing is Colonel Tony D. Bauernfeind.^[3] The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Paul J Henderson II.^[4]

A variety of special operations aircraft are stationed at Cannon, including the AC-130W Stinger II, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, CV-22 Osprey and several versions of light and medium transport aviation aircraft. The AC-130W is assigned to the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, with all twelve becoming operational in 2010.^[5]

History[edit]

Cannon Air Force Base is named in honor of General John K. Cannon (1892–1955). The history of the base began in the late 1920s, when a civilian passenger facility, Portair Field, was established on the site. Portair Field was used as a terminal for early commercial transcontinental flights, flew passengers in the Ford Trimotor “Tin Goose” by day, and used Pullman trains for night travel. In the 1930s Portair was renamed Clovis Municipal Airport.

World War II[edit]

After the United States entered World War II, the first military unit to use the facility was a glider detachment. On 6 July 1942 the base was assigned to Second Air Force. In 1943, the military began to use the facility as a bomber base. Clovis AAF was assigned to II Bomber Command, Second Air Force. On 8 April 1943, the base was renamed Clovis Army Air Field. The host unit at Clovis AAF was the 16th Bombardment Wing, a training unit for Consolidated 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 administrative control of Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colorado. Clovis AAF was placed on temporarily inactive status 28 May 1947.

Cold War[edit]

3 March 1997 USGS Orthophoto

Clovis Army Airfield – 1943.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

With the establishment of the United States Air Force in September 1947, Clovis AAF was reactivated. The 509th Airdrome Group, Clovis Detachment took over day-to-day responsibilities for the airfield on 16 December 1947. The 509th operated Clovis AAF as a detachment from its Headquarters at 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 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.

Clovis AFB remained on standby status until 1 April 1950 when jurisdiction was transferred from SAC to Air Training Command (ATC). ATC assigned the base as subpost of 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 Air Force'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 Air National Guard's 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 Colorado, Utah and Wyoming Air National Guards.

Special Operations Command[edit]

CV-22 Osprey of the 27th Operations Wing

On 13 May 2005, the Secretary of Defense recommended that Cannon Air Force Base be closed as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process. However, on 25 August 2005, the BRAC Commission overturned the recommendation that Cannon AFB be closed, but upheld the withdrawal of the base's F-16 fighter aircraft. The Air Force had until 31 December 2009 to come up with a new use for Cannon AFB, otherwise the base would be closed in 2010.^[6] Cannon AFB attempted to reopen a rejected EIS alternative, by substituting an Environmental Assessment. Comments were accepted through 4 October 2010.^[7]

On 20 June 2006, it was announced that Cannon AFB would transfer from Air Combat Command and become an Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) installation. Initial word was that the 16th Special Operations Wing would transfer from Hurlburt Field, Florida. However, it was later decided that the 27th Fighter Wing would transfer from ACC to AFSOC and become the 27th Special Operations Wing. This action would entail expanding and realigning some aspects of both the 16th Special Operations Wing and Air Force Special Operations Command, also headquartered at Hurlburt Field. This designation means that the base will receive new aircraft to replace the F-16s lost in the BRAC realignment. Jurisdiction was formally transferred to Air Force Special Operations Command on 1 October 2007.

New airframes, including the CV-22 Osprey, were assigned to the new wing at Cannon. Other potential aircraft for Cannon AFB are AC-130H Spectre Gunships and the MC-130H Combat Talon II. The final aircraft mix between Cannon AFB and Hurlburt Field has not been finalized.^[8] As of 20 May 2009 two AC-130H Spectres arrived at the base. These are the first of about eight gunships that will be assigned to the base by the end of the summer.^[9]

Base units[edit]

Base units now include:

27th Special Operations Group

One of four groups assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing. The group accomplishes global special operations taskings as an Air Force 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-1B Predator, 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 are 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.

Previous names[edit]

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

Base operating units[edit]

409th Base HQ and Air Base Sq, 24 December 1942
234th AAF Base Unit, 25 March 1944 – 16 October 1947
509th Airdrome Gp, Clovis Det, 16 December 1947
234th AF Base Unit, 1 July 1948-c. April 1950
Base inactive April 1950-1 October 1951
140th Air Base Gp, 1 October 1951

50th Air Base Gp, 1 January 1953
4445th Air Base Sq, 25 June 1953
388th Air Base Gp, 23 November 1953
312th Air Base Gp, 7 October 1954
832d Air Base Gp, 8 October 1957 (rdsgd 832d Combat Support Gp, 1 October 1962)
27th Combat Support Gp, 8 June 1969 (redsg 27th Mission Support Gp, 1 October 1992)-Present

Major units assigned[edit]

11th Altitude Training Unit, 22 July 1943 – 1 April 1944
234th Army Air Force (later Air Force) Base Unit (later 4000 Base Services Sq), 1 April 1944 – 1 April 1950
301st Bombardment Group, 4 August 1946 – 16 July 1947
140th Fighter-Bomber Group (NM ANG), 5 July 1951 – 1 January 1963
50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1–23 July 1953
388th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 23 November 1953 – 28 November 1954

312th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 October 1954 – 18 February 1959
474th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 8 October 1957 – 20 January 1968
832d Air Division, 8 October 1957 – 1 July 1975
27th Tactical Fighter Wing, 18 February 1959 – 30 September 2007
27th Special Operations Wing, 1 October 2007–present

Geography and Demographics[edit]

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) of it is land and 0.19% is water.

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 2,557 people, 921 households, and 575 families residing on the base. The population density was 481.8 people per square mile (185.9/km²). There were 1,087 housing units at an average density of 204.8 per square mile (79.0/km²). The racial makeup of the residents was 68.0% White, 13.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 6.1% from other races, and 5.9% from two or more races. 12.1% of the population were Hispanic or 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.

References[edit]

^ Cannon Air Force Base Archived 26 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine., official web site
^ FAA Airport Master Record for CVS (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2007-12-20
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
^ Schanz, Marc (March 2008). "Special Operators Head West". Air Force Magazine, Journal of the Air Force Association., p. 32.
^ Globalsecurity.org: Cannon AFB, New Mexico. Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
^ "Cultural Energy - Media Voices of Northern New Mexico". www.culturalenergy.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
^ "Air Force News Service". af.mil. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
^ "Spectres Arrive". af.mil. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

Other sources[edit]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Cannon Air Force Base".
Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1).
Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., 1989
Baugher, Joe. USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present. USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994
Menard, David W. USAF Plus Fifteen – A Photo History 1947 – 1962. Lancaster, PA: Schiffere Books,1993. ISBN 0-88740-483-9.
Rogers, Brian, United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978, 2005