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Cannon, Andrew B., Brig Gen.
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Contact Info
Home Town Newton, MA
Last Address Tilton, NH
Date of Passing May 01, 1974
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Last Known Activity:
REMEMBRANCE IN PROGRESS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE ------- This profile is based upon, and credited to, research done by USMF member "Forum Support" (user name) who consulted on a grouping named to this officer which may be seen at this link: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60713&hl= ------- From AFRHA:
BRIGADIER GENERAL ANDREW B. CANNON
Retired June 1, 1963. Died May 1, 1974.
Brigadier General Andrew B. Cannon, presently commander of the 63d Troop Carrier Wing (Heavy) at Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C., is an authority on military airlift. He was the third individual assigned to the old Ferrying Command, now the Military Air Transport Service, and maintains one of the longest associations with MATS of any active member of the Air Force. He has had many varied assignments in the U.S. Air Force.
Although born in Newton, Mass., in 1903, he considers his home to be Tilton, N.H., where he studied at Tilton Junior High School and the Tilton Seminary, and maintains his home. In 1927 he first became interested in aviation. His flying career began at that time when he took his first lessons in surplus World War I aircraft. He began flying commercially in 1932, and was personal pilot for Mr. Thomas E.P. Rice of the U.S. Smelting Corporation for approximately six years. During this period, he flew twin engine amphibious twin float seaplanes. He later flew as pilot for Inter-City Airlines of Boston, Mass., until called to active duty in the Air Force in early 1941.
General Cannon's first military duty assignments took him to Florida and California. In the early phases of World War II, he commanded a detachment of 10 transport aircraft which moved troops and supplies in the Alaskan Theater just one week after the bombing of Dutch Harbor. When relieved of this assignment, he returned to Long Beach, Calif., as deputy commander of the Sixth Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command. In April 1943, he was transferred to Palm Springs Air Force Base and activated the 21st Ferrying Group of which he was the first commander. He returned to Long Beach, Calif., in September 1943 to take command of the Sixth Ferrying Group.
In June 1944, General Cannon was assigned as commander of the Bengal Wing in the China-Burma-India Theater. His wing consisted of 10 air bases and more than 300 transport aircraft engaged in flying materials of war over the famous "hump" to China. He arranged for the aerial transportation of two complete Chinese armies, including mules. Within 14 months, the Bengal Wing flew more than 37,000 trips "over the hump" with the general personally flying more than 120 combat missions.
Returning to the United States at the cessation of hostilities, General Cannon separated from service in 1946 and became superintendent of maintenance for Capital Airlines. During this period, he remained active in the Air Force Reserve. On one of his active duty tours in 1949, he served as special assistant to the commander, First Airlift Task Force at Wiesbaden, Germany where his invaluable experience was utilized during the famous Berlin Airlift.
General Cannon was recalled to duty in early 1951 and has been on active duty ever since. Upon recall, he reported to Kelly Air Force Base, Texas where he served as assistant to the commander, Continental Division, MATS and then as commander, 1700th Air Transport Group.
In 1955, after four years at Kelly Air Force Base, he was transferred to Pacific Division, MATS, as commander of the 1502d Air Transport Wing located at Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii. This wing was responsible for movement of air cargo throughout the Pacific area.
Following his tour in Hawaii, General Cannon went to Dover Air Force Base, Del., in 1958 as commander of the 1607th Air Transport Wing, Heavy. After this assignment he became wing commander of the 63d Troop Carrier Wing (Heavy) at Donaldson Air Force Base on Sept. 15, 1958, the position he now fills.
A command pilot, General Cannon has logged more than 20,000 hours including more than 5,000 hours as pilot in command of large twin engine amphibious and twin float type commercial aircraft. He has flown more than four million air miles, piloting many types of aircraft. As a MATS aircraft commander, he has completed 10,000 accident-free flying hours, and is now qualified as a flight examiner and instructor pilot in the C-124 Douglas Globemaster aircraft.
Since General Cannon assumed command of the 63d Troop Carrier Wing (Heavy), this organization has distinguished itself in all areas of the globe. Accident free Operation Deep Freeze 60, the aerial resupply of the United States Stations in Antarctica, is but one of the outstanding achievements of General Cannon's wing.
Early in 1959, the general piloted the first non-stop flight in a C-124 Globemaster from Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C. to Rhein-Main, Germany. His aircraft landed in Germany less than 20 hours after take-off.
General Cannon commanded the First Provisional Support Squadron at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico during Operation Big Slam/Puerto Pine. An outstanding record was achieved on this mission, the largest peacetime airlift ever accomplished by the U.S. Air Force. The various units commanded by General Cannon have consistently achieved outstanding safety records under his direction.
He has completed the Manpower Management Course at The George Washington University, the Atomic Weapons Orientation Course at the Air University, and the Air Reserve Colonel's Course at the Air Command and Staff College.
His military awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star Medal; Air Medal with oak leaf cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal; a special award from the National Chinese Government, the Special Breast Order of Yun Hui with ribbon. Also, the American Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Air Force Reserve Medal and Air Force Longevity Service Award.
General Cannon achieved the rank of brigadier general in May 1960. General Cannon is an honorary member of Rotary International and a member of the Masonic Lodge of Tilton, N.H.
Korean War/Korean Summer (1953)
From Month/Year
May / 1953
To Month/Year
June / 1953
Description Although Communist leaders showed a desire to negotiate an armistice, they would not do so before trying to improve their
military positions. During May 1953 Fifth Air Force reconnaissance revealed that the Chinese and North Koreans were regrouping their front-line forces. On the last day of the month, Lt. Gen. Samuel E. Anderson took command of the Fifth Air Force.
Communist forces directed a major assault on June 10 against the Republic of Korea's II Corps near Kumsong, a small town in central Korea, 110 miles southeast of Pyongyang. With American aid, the South Koreans stopped the Communist drive by June 19 with little loss of territory. During the enemy offensive, UN pilots broke previous records in flying close air support sorties, with Far East Air Forces flying 7,032, the Marines, 1,348, and other UN air forces, 537. Also during June FEAF devoted about 1/2 of its combat sorties to close air support.
Communist troops attacked again in central Korea on July 13, forcing the ROK II Corps to retreat once more. But by the 20th Allied ground forces had stopped the foe's advance only a few miles south of previous battle lines. Once again, during July, FEAF devoted more than 40 percent of its 12,000 combat sorties to close air support missions. During the Communist offensives, the 315th Air Division responded to demands of the Eighth Army and between June 21 and 23 airlifted an Army regiment (3,252 soldiers and 1,770 tons of cargo) from Japan to Korea. From June 28 through July 2, the airlifters flew almost 4,000 more troops and over 1,200 tons of cargo from Misawa and Tachikawa Air Bases in Japan to Pusan and Taegu airfields in Korea.
These proved to be the last major airlift operations of the Korean conflict. In aerial combat, meanwhile, Fifth Air Force interceptors set new records. Sabrejet pilots fought most aerial battles in May, June, and July 1953 at 20,000-40,000 feet in altitude, where the F-86F was most lethal, and during these 3 months, claimed 165 aerial victories against only 3 losses-the best quarterly victory-loss ratio of the war.
Fifth Air Force and FEAF Bomber Command also continued to punish the enemy through air interdiction, making attacks on the Sui-ho power complex and other industrial and military targets along the Yalu River. In addition, the Fifth Air Force in May attacked irrigation dams that had previously been excluded from the list of approved targets. On May 13 U.S. fighter-bombers broke the Toksan Dam about 20 miles north of Pyongyang, and on the 16th they bombed the Chasan Dam, a few miles to the east of Toksan Dam. The resulting floods extensively damaged rice fields, buildings, bridges, and roads. Most importantly, 2 main rail lines were disabled for several days. Between July 20 and 27 the UN Command bombed North Korean airfields to prevent extensive aerial reinforcement before the armistice ending the Korean conflict became effective on July 27, 1953.
