Cannon, John Kenneth, 1892-1955

U.S. Air Force General (4 stars); commander of Mediterranean Allied Tactical Forces, 1943-1945; Commander of Allied Air Forces in European and Mediterranean Theaters; Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Air Force Tactical Command, 1951-1954.

John Kenneth Cannon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1892 and graduated from Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University) in 1914. He was a four Star General, of the U.S. Air Force; Commanding General of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Forces 1943-1945; Commander of Allied Air Forces in European and Mediterranean theatres, during World War Two; Strategist for "Operation Strangle"; Commander in Chief U.S. Air Force in Europe, 1945-1948; and Head of Air Force Tactical Command, 1951-1954. Cannon retired in April 1954 and died in Arcadia, California, on January 12, 1955.

Four Star General, U.S. Air Force; Commanding General of Mediterranean Allied Tactical Forces 1943-1945; Commander of Allied Air Forces in European and Mediterranean theatres, W.W. II; Strategist for "Operation Strangle"; Commander in Chief U.S. Air Force in Europe, 1945-1948; Head of Air Force Tactical Command, 1951-1954.

John Kenneth Cannon (1892-1955) had an illustrious career in the United States Air Force eventually becoming a Four Star General. Cannon was born in Salt Lake City in 1892 and he graduated from the Utah Agricultural College in 1914. After serving in the infantry during WWII, he took up pilot training from 1921 to 1922. He served in the Air Corps in Hawaii, Michigan, Texas, and California. In 1938 Cannon went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for three years as chief of the U.S. Military Mission. Cannon was promoted to brigadier general in February 1942 and in World War II went overseas as commanding general of the 12th Air Support Command during the invasion of French Morocco. Through March and April 1943 Cannon organized an air training command for the Mediterranean Theater and in May became deputy commanding general of the Allied Tactical Air Force for the Sicilian campaign and the invasion of Italy. He was promoted to major general in June and by December became commanding general of the 12th Air force and the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force, being responsible for all air operations for the invasion of southern Europe. The following March he was promoted to lieutenant general and named air commander in chief of all Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater and in May became commanding general of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

General Cannon returned to the U.S. in April 1946 as commanding general of Air Training Command at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. In October 1948 he returned to Europe as commanding general, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In March 1950, he was designated Commander in Chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He was promoted to full general in October 1951 and appointed commanding general of Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

Cannon retired on April 1, 1954 and he died in Arcadia, California on January 12, 1955. Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico is named after him.

Information courtesy of Air Force Link Biographies, http://www.af.mil/bios/index.asp