General John Kenneth Cannon (March 9, 1892 – January 12, 1955)[2] was a World War II Mediterranean combat commander and former chief of United States Air Forces in Europe for whom Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, New Mexico, is named.

He completed pursuit pilot training at Ellington Field, Texas, on April 23, 1922, where one of his seven classmates was Lt. Claire Lee Chennault.

Cannon went to Hawaii in January 1925, assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Luke Field on Ford Island, where he became operations officer of the 5th Composite Group.

In June 1938, Cannon went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for three years as chief of the U.S. Military Mission.

In May 1945, Lt. Gen. John K. Cannon became commanding general of U.S. Air Forces in Europe USAFE.He earned four Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal and decorations from Great Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Yugoslavia and Morocco.

This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force