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Personal info

Full name
CANFIELD, Marion Lyle
Date of birth
14 June 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas
Hometown
Harper County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
38565592
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 February 1945
Place of death
East of Jaraczewo, Poland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 27 21

Immediate family

Members
William R. Canfield (father)
Laura A. (Dunn) Canfield (mother)
William R. Canfield (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31060
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pogue Ma Hone
Destination: Lutzkendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 12245

More information

Sgt Marion L. Canfield graduated from Selman High School.

He enlisted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 20 September 1943.

The airplane collided with #43-39149 before bombs away. The right wing hit the tail of #43-39149, knocking out two engines. It dropped down about 10,000 feet below the formation and seemed to be under control. It followed the formation for about 45 minutes and was then lost from sight.

Three crew members were picked up by Russian troops and returned to England on 6 March 1945. One crew member was taken prisoner. Four men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.303rdbg.com, WWIImemorial, Footnote, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree,WWII Draft Registration Card

Photo source: Gary Moncur, www.303rdbg.com, The Harper County Journal 15 March 1945