Marion Lyle "Mickey" Canfield

Marion L. Canfield, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, 38565592, 427th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy. Entered the service from Oklahoma. Died: February 5, 1945. Buried at: Plot B, Row 27, Grave 21, Ardennes Amerian Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. Awards: Purple Heart. (ABMC) William Raymond Canfield, Sr. "was married to Laura Lorraine Dunn of Coldwater on June 4, 1920 in Wichita. Laura was the daughter of F. Marion and Laura Dunn. To this union were born two sons: William Raymond "Bill" Canfield, Jr. and Marion Lyle "Mickey" Canfield, who was killed overseas during WWII when while serving as a ball turret gunner on a B17 which was shot down over enemy territory on a bombing mission. He is buried in Poland. Bill served in the Paratroopers with the 101st Airborne." -- Wm. R. Canfield, Jr. (CCH, p. 301)     (ABMC, CCVM, DJHSP)

Ray Canfield of Selman, Okla., a former resident of this county, called his brother, J. H. Canfield of Coldwater to tell him that Sgt. Marion I. Canfield, ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, was killed in a plane crash in February while over Germany going toward Russia. His plane was crippled and contact was maintained by the plane's base for 45 minutes after the B-17 was first hit.

Sgt. Canfield, who was about 21 years of age, was born in this county and enlisted in the Army in July, 1942. He had been overseas only two or three weeks before going on the fatal mission.

His cousin, Cpl. Harry Canfield of Coldwater called at Marion's base in England the day he failed to return from his mission so did not get to see him.

Sgt. Canfield is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Canfield, and by one brother, Sgt. Wm. R. Canfield Jr., paratrooper who, after a patrol in Germany was featured in a story in Life Magazine last December. (SB)

Offsite links:

ALFRED K. NEMER CREW - 427th BS: Includes photo of Marion Canfield and the crew members of his bomber with whom he died in action.

Accident-Report.com

This list shows 303rd men "Killed in Action" or "Killed in Service" plus those who have passed away since the war.

303rd BOMB GROUP(H) HONOR ROLL

Cemetery Index - Allegany County Historian's Office

CREW LIST by PILOT

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This page was last updated 27 March 2004.