From the Air Force Association’s Daily Report— an e-mail newsletter that hits my in-box every week day morning without fail — three items about Cannon Airplane Patch:
Home On The (Melrose) Range: Just a few months after the base transitioned to Air Force Special Operations Command, air commando officials at Cannon AFB, N.M. are preparing to ramp up training at one of the facility's key assets-the nearby Melrose Bombing and Gunnery Range. One of the big reasons why AFSOC decided to open their western base of operations in the High Plains of eastern New Mexico is the sheer space the range has to offer-about 60,000 acres of Air Force property, 8,800 of which are dedicated impact areas for day or night gunnery and bombing practice. AFSOC expects by April to unleash its AC-130 gunships on the range as a regular patrons. During a tour of the range last week Lt. Col. Toby Corey, director of operations for the 27th Special Operations Support Squadron, said Cannon planned to open two dedicated gunship impact training areas this spring. The two areas-named "Spirit" and "Jockey" in honor of two gunships lost in the Gulf War and Operation Restore Hope, respectively-will be filled with about 26 targets. During his final flight before retiring, Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, former AFSOC commander, helped demonstrate the "proof of concept" for the two areas by flying the AC-130 that shot the first live rounds. Since the air commandos will have priority use on the range space, Corey said that AFSOC plans to begin regular temporary duty training rotations with gunship crews, and will soon include training with special tactics airmen.
-Marc V. Schanz
Cross Training at Melrose: While AFSOC's 27th Special Operations Wing would have priority access to the open training space on Melrose (see above), the air commandos won't be alone according to Lt. Col. Toby Corey, ops boss for the 27th Special Operations Support Squadron. In addition to hosting special tactics training from AFSOC units based at Hurlburt Field, Fla., the 27th SOW will be able to work closely with the nearby 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M. The 58th SOW, an Air Education and Training Command unit, is the schoolhouse for AFSOC's helicopter and MC-130 crews and has picked up the training role for the new CV-22. "They are familiar with the environment and the terrain and it will a benefit to have them nearby," Corey said. The short distance for both the Kirtland and Cannon SOF units to the training range also means shorter missions-meaning both the schoolhouse and the wing will get more chances to train.
First On the Ramp: The last F-16 will fly off the ramp at Cannon AFB, N.M. by the end of the month, according to Col. Tim Leahy, the commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing, the new boss at Cannon. The base is undergoing modification and construction of new facilities to support its new Air Force Special Operations Command missions. The first full AFSOC squadron scheduled to take up residence is the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, which flies the MC-130W Combat Spear. While only one of the aircraft was on the ramp as of early December, the squadron is planning to move 12 aircraft out to New Mexico by the end of February; the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia has been modifying standard C-130H models into the special ops version. In the summertime, AFSOC's dedicated unmanned aerial vehicle squadron-the 3rd SOS-will be picking up and moving down from Creech AFB, Nev. Currently construction is proceeding on pads and ground stations for Predator operators at Cannon, as well as conversion of simulation facilities and squadron operations office space.
I’ve noticed there are usually two C-130s on the ramp whenever I go out to the base lately. (You’ll note I didn’t put the “A” or the “M” prefix on “C-130,” since I cannot tell which variant is which from my perspective on the perimeter road.) I also watched an AFSOC C-130 shooting touch ’n’ goes while out at the base a couple of weeks ago… slowing down to a crawl and managing to take in two such passes on the active runway before I ran out of road. My salient observation of this exercise? A/MC-130s are a whole helluva lot quieter than F-16s; an order of magnitude quieter. On take-off, anyway. It’s quite a different story once they start playing around out at the Melrose range. BIG boomers, then!
I'm looking forward to seeing the Ospreys in this part of the world, too.
(Photo credit: Official USAF photo of an AC-130 on the Cannon AFB ramp.)
Home On The (Melrose) Range: Just a few months after the base transitioned to Air Force Special Operations Command, air commando officials at Cannon AFB, N.M. are preparing to ramp up training at one of the facility's key assets-the nearby Melrose Bombing and Gunnery Range. One of the big reasons why AFSOC decided to open their western base of operations in the High Plains of eastern 
Very cool! My hubby said the other day when the Floyd FD was invited to standby out there at the MBR that the plane DID start a fire with it's rounds, but then extinguished itself by shooting the fire and the concussion put out the blaze. I hope all their fires are put out as quickly. As for the noise, I don't mind it. Air noise sure beats the hell out of road noise. As long as they aren't so low as to spook my cattle. LOL!
ReplyDeleteMan, some people have all the fun. First F-16s, now this. I'm stuck with the -135s and E-4 when I'm home, which is still awesome compared Ames...a cessna every few days, and maybe an executive jet once a month. Exciting.
ReplyDeleteCool to see the names of the ranges...not sure if you're familiar with the story of Spirit 03, but it's actually a really good one:
"At 0600 hours on the morning of January 31, "Spirit 03" was the last of three AC-130 Spectre gunships on station to provide close air support for the embattled Marines on the ground. Spirit 03 was due to end its patrol when it received a call from the Marines - they needed an enemy missile battery destroyed. Despite the risk of anti-aircrarft artillery fire, and the greater danger of the morning sun casting light on the circling gunship, the crew of "Spirit 03" chose to remain and destroy the position requested.
Soon after eliminating the target designated by the Marines, a lone Iraqi hoisted an SA-7 "Grail" manportable surface-to-air missile to his shoulder. In the dawn of the early morning light, the form of the large AC-130 slowly became visible in the skies over Khafji. The decision to remain behind to support the Marines cost the pilots and crew of Spirit 03 their best defensive weapon - darkness. The Iraqi pointed the weapon at the aircraft, and fired. The missile found its target and at 0635 hours the aircraft sent out a "mayday" distress call and then crashed into the waters of the Persian Gulf. All 14 crewmembers were killed."
link: http://www.specialoperations.com/Memorial/spirit.html
Jenny: I sure would have liked to have ridden along with your husband out to Melrose that day!
ReplyDeleteMike: I was unaware of the story of Spirit 03; thanks for the link.
One is beginning to see the SpecOps folks wandering around the BX, commissary, and such out at Cannon nowadays. These guys have every bit as much "swagger" as the fighter pilots (who are notorious for it, as you well know) and, based on their history/legacy, they've earned it.
One of our cadre members here at Det 250 is a contracting officer who has had a few billets with AFSOC and SOCCENT down in Florida. She has some good stories.
ReplyDeleteRe: the swagger...they certainly do, and they certainly have.
A possible reason for AC-130H gunships to move to Cannon AFB might be because of their ability to support National Guard units and ultimately the Border Patrol and the DEA along our Mexican border.
ReplyDeleteThey have very limited dry fire training ability in the area around Clovis/Portales coupled with performance issues and a serious lack of infrastructure that will cost hundreds and hundreds of millions @ Cannon AFB. So one must ask, "why the hurry to get the AC-130 to Cannon AFB?"
There have always been rumors in the SOF community of the H-Model gunship going to the Guard or Reserve, this might be the catalyst to committing them to support National Guard Units with unparalleled firepower along our porous southern border.
Great sensor suite, incredible accuracy and the ability to loiter and fire 105MM High Fragmentation and 40MM rounds for hours on end means they can turn the border area into a wasteland of rotting corpses...a virtual meat grinder for illegal's and drug smugglers.
I feel sorry for any Mexican citizen trying to enter the country illegally after AFSOC puts the AC-130H Spectre in New Mexico.
Finally, Mexicans attempting to enter this country illegally and/or shoot at our Border Patrol Agents might get the message. It just so happens to be the AC-130H Spectre mantra..."You Can Run...But You'll only Die Tired."
Thanks for dropping by, Mischief. You have an interesting theory, but I think the Posse Comitatus Act kinda-sorta rules that out, no? Barring an amendment to the law, of course.
ReplyDeleteI also read that the Melrose Range was one of the key deciding factors in bringing AFSOC to Cannon. That and the fact we have virtually NO encroachment issues here. I posted about that subject here.
Anyhoo... thanks for dropping by, and I hope I see ya again!
What's a real shame is that we in NW Florida are going to get stuck with hundreds of homes on the market, many contractor jobs being transported out to Clovis and we didn't have a base on the BRAC list. I know of 8 16th SOS members that have contacted attorney's to short sell their homes. 3 facing foreclosure.
ReplyDeleteIf there is no tangible training benefit for the unit and it will increase wear and tear on the aircraft why does AFSOC insist on doing this? According to the Ops Officer they can't meet FAA mandated climb requirements IFR, yet they're still sending this unit out there? PORK!!!!!!!!