The Air Force has begun the process of deactivating the 522nd Fighter Squadron, which just returned to Cannon AFB, N.M. from a deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam. It was the last deployment for any element of the 27th Fighter Wing, which wrapped up its tenure at Cannon yesterday. It had already deactivated its two other fighter squadrons. The new base owner Air Force Special Operations Command took over Oct. 1, establishing its 27th Special Operations Wing as host unit. There was a full court press from the New Mexico Congressional delegation.
The Air Force is seeking funding to let its pilots fly a little more than 1.1 million hours in fiscal 2027, which would be the most in about four years. But even if Airmen actually do fly all 1.1 million hours, it would still be short of the 1.3 million…