1st Lt William E E Canfield Shot Down Near Nantes, France

O-793729

1st Lt. William Edward Eustace Canfield was born December 31, 1921 to Julian and Margaret (Little) Canfield in Kingston, New York. His father was a farmer and an architect/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 Albany, New York area. He was a graduate of the class of 1938 from Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, New York.

On January 14, 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. Canfield was assigned to the 451st bomb squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, which was initially based out of Drane Field, Florida. On November 24, 1942, the ground crew sailed for the United Kingdom aboard the Queen Elizabeth and arrived on November 30. The ground unit was originally to be stationed at Bury St. Edmunds, but the field was undergoing improvement and modifications, so they went to Rattlesden until May 22, 1943. On October 16,1943, the Group was reassigned to the Ninth Air Force but continued to be based in England, at Andrews Field.

According to information in the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR 7046), Lt Canfield had flown a total of 58 missions from 1942 to July 19, 1944. He was awarded an Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters during his career.

On July 19, 1944, the B26 (41-35021 ) piloted by Lt William E Canfield, took off from Andrews Field headed for targets near Nantes, France. He was flying with a crew of eight men on board. His crew had just released their bombs when the plane took a direct hit from anti-aircraft flak. The flak hit the plane near the bomb door and the left engine, which caught fire. The plane banked steeply to the left. Several crew members were able to jump and deploy their chutes. Then the left wing broke off and Canfield’s B-26 went into an uncontrollable spin and crashed on the left side of the Loire River in France.

1st Lt. William E E Canfield was among 6 men who were killed in the crash. The following men were on the Marauder B-26 #41-35021:

1st Lt. William E E Canfield- Pilot, KIA

Colonel John G Simpson, Co-pilot KIA

1Lt Hugo Comforti, Navigator KIA

1Lt James Burns, Bombardier KIA

T/Sgt Hamilton Hofmeister, Radio Operator KIA

T/Sgt Jack H Chidester Top Turret Gunner, POW

T/Sgt Wilbur W Hampton, Tail Gunner; POW

Sgt Ralph Vincent Hehl, Bombadier/Togglier -DOW 7-20-1944

Lt Canfield was survived by his parents, Julian and Margaret Canfield; sisters Jean, Julianne, and Mary Canfield.

After the war ended Lt Canfield was brought home and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery on May 23, 1949. His final resting place is Section 11, Grave 431.

Awards:

Purple Heart

Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters

World War II Victory Medal

European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign

American Campaign Medal

Sources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118221624/william-e_eustace-canfield

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100515264/lt-w-e-e-canfield-body-returned-for-buri/

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7750/images/NEWS-NY-TR_RE.1959_11_24-0015?pId=503177231

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/1033

www.findagrave.com/memorial/118221624

"U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Bethlehem Central High School; Year: 1938

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3806339:8939?ssrc=pt&tid=20230826&pid=202076016572

National Cemetery Interrment Records

https://www.fold3.com/image/28694985

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to add, please contact me at dklehman81@gmail.com. Debi Lehman SBTS Writer

SBTSProject/New York/ Rensselaer County