Leroy J. Canning
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Serial: 13151559
Unit: 714th Bomber Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Burial: Plot F, O 1741B — Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Introduction
Staff Sergeant Leroy J. Canning
Staff Sergeant Leroy J. Canning was born on June 28, 1922 in Camden, NJ. His early days were spent in Haddonfield, NJ. In 1930 his mother Anna Horner Canning, Leroy, and younger brother Robert were living at the home of his grandfather, William B. Horner, at 125 Linden Avenue in Haddonfield. At the time of the census William Horner listed his occupation as gardener for a municipality, and Anna Canning was a saleslady in a candy shop. Mrs. Canning later moved the family to 6729 Park Avenue in Pennsauken, NJ. She re-married sometime after the 1930 census. Leroy Canning graduated from Merchantville (NJ) High School, and worked for RCA-Victor in Camden, NJ before enlisting in the Army on October 26, 1942. He had last lived at 114 Colonial Avenue in Haddonfield, NJ before his enlistment.
Leroy Canning qualified for flight duty. After training at Kessler Field, MI, he trained as a turret gunner at the aerial gunnery school at Harlingen, TX, before going overseas to serve with the 714th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, Heavy. This unit flew B-24 Liberator bombers out of England.
Staff Sergeant Canning was killed in action when his plane went down over Germany on August 26, 1944. Initially listed as missing in action, his body was recovered and he was declared dead on August 27, 1945. He was returned home to New Jersey, and buried at Beverly National Cemetery on December 8, 1948. Leroy Canning was survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna Miller, of the Park Avenue address, his brother Robert, and his grandmother, Mrs. Mae Horner of Haddonfield, NJ. Canning Avenue in Pennsauken, NJ was named for him.
Grave
Grave of Leroy J. Canning, Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ
Military Service For L. J. Canning
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for S/Sgt. LeRoy J. Canning will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the U. S. National Cemetery, Beverly, with military rites.
Sergeant Canning, who lived at 114 Colonial avenue, Haddon, was killed in action August 26, 1944, at the age of 22. He was a turret gunner on a B-24 with the Eighth Air Force and had taken part in 12 flights over enemy territory. He was shot down over Germany.
He went into the army Oct. 26, 1942, trained at Kessler Field, Miss., and Harlingen, Tex., and went overseas in June, 1944. He was born in Camden and sang in the choir of the Centenary-Tabernacle Methodist Church. A graduate of Merchantville High school, he had also lived in Pennsauken and worked for the RCA.
His mother, Mrs. Anna W. Canning Miller, of the Haddonfield address, received the Air Corps Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart posthumously.
Also surviving are a brother, Robert J., Crescent Park, and his grandmother, Mrs. Mae Horner, Haddonfield.
Canning Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ
Canning Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ — named in honor of Staff Sergeant Leroy J. Canning
714th Bomber Squadron — 448th Bombardment Group
714th Bomber Squadron patch (left) and 448th Bombardment Group patch (right)
Constituted 714th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on April 6, 1943. Activated on May 1, 1943 and based at Gowen Field Idaho. Moved to Wendover Field, Utah on July 4, 1943. Based at Sioux City AAB, Iowa from September 11 to November 7, 1943.
On November 30, 1943 the 448th Bomb Group was moved to England. The 714th was among the 712th, 713th, and 715th Squadrons, plus all the support units based at Seething airfield, Norfolk, known as Station 146. Seething was home for around 3,000 men consisting of roughly 500 officers and 2,500 enlisted men.
Squadron patches: 712th, 713th, 714th, and 715th Bomber Squadrons
Seething airfield, Station 146, Norfolk, England
Operations area, 448th Bomb Group
448th Bomb Group patch
The 448th Bomb Group flew their first mission on December 22, 1943. They flew 262 missions over Europe, the last in April 1945. On July 5, 1945, the 448th Bomb Group and its support squadrons returned to America.
RAF Seething, Station 146 — control tower, restored by veterans of the 448th Bomb Group Association
In 1984, the 448th Bomb Group Association came over to Seething to dedicate two memorials they had designed and paid for. A roll of honor is dedicated to the members of the 448th BG who gave their lives to fight for freedom from the base.
448th Bomb Group memorials at Seething airfield, Norfolk, England
Reunions are frequently held at Seething by the 448th Bomb Group, making strong links between the local people and their American friends.