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Important new mission for aircraft 64-0523

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Chance
  • 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Combat Talon I, tail number 0523, arrived at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., one year ago this month on June 22, 2012; but they share a lot of similarities in their humble mission and important Air Force past.

Many do not understand Cannon's critical mission and special operations past. I know until recently, I could say this held true for me concerning this particular Combat Talon I. On June 22, 2012, aircraft 0523 under its original call sign Cherry 1, flew its final flight to Cannon.

Cherry 1 would spend the next year prepping for its final mission. This mission would not only tie both Cannon and Cherry 1 together from that point on, but would also tie together the rich Air Force Special Operations Command history with Cannon and AFSOC missions of today and the future.

Cannon started its humble beginning in the late 1920s as a civilian passenger facility known as Portair Field, which changed its name to Clovis Municipal Airport in the 1930s. In the spring of 1943, CMA was renamed Clovis Army Air Field, and welcomed in the 16th Bombardment Wing. The 16 BW was a training unit for the B-24 Liberator.

During the following years, Clovis AAF slid in and out of importance, had its' name changed and eventually went into inactive status. It wasn't until 1950 when Air Training Command took control of the now named Clovis AFB and one year later hosted the 140th Fighter Bomber Wing.

For the next seven years, Clovis AFB hosted more than seven different Fighter Bomber Wings and Tactical Fighter Wings. In 1957 the base took the name we now know as Cannon Air Force Base. Two years later, Cannon became the home of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, hosting F-100s, which had success in many major deployments throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

During this time, aircraft 0523 was beginning its' long and successful career. Built in 1964, 0523 was one of the first four C-130Es to become part of the Combat Talon designation in 1966. Aircraft 0523 and 17 other C-130Es took on the special designation and became part of the 7th Special Operations Squadron.

These aircraft were developed to support clandestine special operations missions during the Vietnam War. In 1970, aircraft 0523 became the lead aircraft during the Son Tay Raid. Operation KING PIN was a special operations raid on a North Vietnamese prisoner of war Camp located near Son Tay where sources reported that more than 75 American POWs were being held in atrocious conditions and were being cruelly mistreated.

One hundred and three volunteers from both the 6th and 7th Special Forces Groups trained for the upcoming mission and on Nov. 20, 1970, departed Thailand on their mission. During the operation, the group discovered that the POWs had been moved, but the Operation was hailed a tactical success due to its nearly flawless execution.

The North Vietnamese estimated that nearly 200 casualties were suffered on their side compared to a broken ankle that an American special operator sustained. Combat Talon I aircraft took part in many other operations and had many facelifts, just as Cannon had experienced throughout the years.

In March 1997, six of these now designated MC-130E aircraft, including 0523, were transferred over to the Air Force Reserve Command's 711th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field, Fla.

In 2005, the MC-130E was the first aircraft to land on the ground after Hurricane Katrina. That same year, Cannon took a hit that changed its' legacy. On May 13, 2005, Air Combat Command's 27th Fighter Wing was recommended for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. However, in June 2006, AFSOC announced that it would take over Cannon and re-mission as the 27th Special Operations Wing.

On October 1, 2007, the wing formally transferred ownership over to AFSOC. The 27 SOW took on a new mission statement to "generate and employ specialized aircraft and highly trained Air Commandos to execute and support special operations missions with unique capabilities including: precision air fires; specialized mobility; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; command and control; information operations; and agile combat support."

As the 27 SOW ramped-up its mission, 0523 was coming to the end of its career. In July 2006, the 8th Special Operations Squadron flew its last Combat Talon I mission, ending 41 years of active-service for the MC-130E. The Air Force slowly phased out the MC-130Es and retired the final one on April 25, 2013 at Duke Field.

This retirement date marked the 33rd-anniversary of Desert One, which several MC-130Es were a part of. Aircraft 0523 took its final flight on Jun 22, 2012, retiring at Cannon. On this date, aircraft 0523 and Cannon became one.

The 27 SOW took possession of 0523, and even though the aircraft was retired from the skies, it had one last mission to do.

It took nearly a year of preparation for this mission, but as with all missions performed by AFSOC, Cannon's Air Commandos took a great deal of care to ensure the mission was successful.

Aircraft 0523 was placed near the main gate of Cannon to remind everyone who enters of the proud legacy of AFSOC and the continued special operations mission we have at hand. No other aircraft but the one that served so honorably would be up to the task that aircraft 0523 is now performing.

(Note: Aircraft 0523 will be formally dedicated during an upcoming base ceremony by members of the Cherry 1 aircrew, June 28.)

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