William Edward Eustace Canfield
Military ROLL OF HONOUR1st Lt. William Edward Eustace Canfield was born 31st December, 1921 to Julian and Margaret (Little) Canfield at Kingston, New York. His father was a farmer and an architect and draftsman. His mother was a homemaker and later worked in a car dealership. Eustace or “Sonny” as his father called him, attending schools in the Kingston, New York area.
On 14th January, 1942 Canfield enlisted in the Army Air Corps with the dream of becoming a pilot. He graduated from the Columbus Army Flying School in Columbus, Mississippi on November 10, 1942.
19th July 1944 the B-26 piloted by Lt William E Canfield was hit by flak just after bombs away. Left engine caught fire, the plane banked steeply to the left, the left wing broke away and the Marauder went into a spin and crashed. No survivors were reported*.
MACR shows two eye witness reports, both spotted a single chute from the A/C, in fact two crew members survived.
Awards: AM (10 OLC), EAME (2 x Battle Stars), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673217
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35650495
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Togglier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Great Saling
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Kingston, NY | 31 December 1921 | Son of Julian and Margaret [Little] Canfield. |
Enlisted |
14 January 1942 | Albany, New York | |
Died |
Loire riverbank | 19 July 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Nantes 19-Jul-44, hit by flak in port engine, wing collapsed, spun in. Crashed left bank of Loire river. KIA MACR 7046 |
Based |
Andrews Field | 19 July 1944 | Assigned to 451BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. |
Other Graduated pilot training |
Columbus AAF, MS | Graduated Columbus Army Flying School, Mississippi. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. | |
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery | Re-Interred Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia |