Fireballs' last feast Published Nov. 6, 2007 By Airman Elliott Sprehe 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The era of the 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon's former host unit, got one step closer to its end Saturday night at the Landing during the 522nd Fighter Squadron's dining out. The Fireballs, who recently returned from an Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment to Guam, celebrated their rich history in style over the course of the night. Attired in mess dress, the Airmen of the Fireballs wore red bow ties and red cummerbunds to show their true "colors." Their wives dressed in red dresses as well, showing their support for their husbands and the unit. "It's an opportunity to bring in and celebrate the conclusion of an era for the Fireballs as we inactivate," said Lt. Col. Tod Fingal, the Fireballs commander. The 522nd FS has been active since the early 1940s and has called Cannon home since 1959. They were Cannon's first F-16 fighter squadron and have dropped thousands of pounds of munitions during innumerable deployments. Though the Fireballs returned to Cannon after the base changed to the 27th Special Operations Wing, they still received the support of wing leadership as though they were not a tenant unit on base, said Colonel Fingal. "Instead of us returning to base as a detachment where we were sharing a base with (Air Force Special Operations Command), AFSOC in turn said 'this is Cannon AFB, this is your home and we are here as a team,'" said Colonel Fingal. Attending the dining out were a number of squadron, group and wing commanders, former Fireball commanders and local community leaders, who all showed their support through toasts and camaraderie. "We're all a little sad to see the squadron close, but happy that we got to celebrate it," said Capt. Jason Monaco, of the Fireballs. The Fireballs emblem, a blue background and cloud formation, represents the theater where the mission is performed. A fireball represents the crushing attacks the squadron directed on the enemy from above. The Fireballs are scheduled for inactivation in December, although one day they may be called on to flame up one more time.