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First Lieutenant Robert Durham Canfield, Jr.

A colorized photograph of a teenage boy.
  • Unit: 154th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 136th Fighter Bomber Group
  • Service Number: AO-1910107
  • Date of Birth: July 25, 1924
  • Date of Death: March 10, 1952
  • Hometown: Globe, Arizona
  • Place of Death: O'par-ri, North Korea, 20 miles north of Pyongyang
  • Award(s): Air Medal, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal
  • Cemetery: Court Eight, Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu. Memorial marker in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona
Contributed by Mr. Thomas Garrett
Canyon View High School, Waddell, Arizona
2025/2026

Early Life

Robert Durham Canfield, Jr. was born on July 25, 1924, to Robert Canfield, Sr. and Ruby Jewell Love Canfield in El Paso, Texas. The middle child of three, he was the only child born outside Arizona. His older sister, Nona, was born in Douglass, Arizona, in 1923, and his younger brother, Frank, was born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1931. 

While his mother, like many women in the early to mid-twentieth century, was a housewife, Canfield’s father was a civil engineer who worked primarily on highway construction. This job required the Canfield family to move around the country. The Canfield family settled in Globe, Arizona, likely in connection with new roadworks projects that began there in 1940. 

Education and Employment 

Canfield attended Globe High School, graduating in 1942. During his time there, he worked on the yearbook, The Wigwam, and participated in the HI-Y club, a YMCA-affiliated club dedicated to public service. 

After graduating in 1942, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he completed his draft registration. In 1944, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Reserve for pre-aviation cadet training. Canfield remained in the Enlisted Reserve Corps after World War II ended. At some point between 1942 and his re-enlistment with the United States Air Force in 1949, he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson and the Arizona State College in Flagstaff (now Northern Arizona University). While attending college, Canfield worked at the historic Babbitt’s Department Store.

Robert Canfield’s birth certificate, July 25, 1924. Texas State Board of Health.
The Canfield family, living in Globe City, Arizona, in 1940. National Archives and Records Administration.
Robert D. Canfield, Jr. in The Wigwam, Globe High School’s yearbook, 1942.
Globe High School, from which Canfield graduated in 1942. Arizona Memory Project.

Homefront

As Canfield grew up and attended high school in Globe, he witnessed the impact of World War II on his hometown’s economy. 

Reflecting the country’s overall economic conditions in the early twentieth century, Globe, Arizona, lacked a bustling economy. A “boom town” of approximately 7,500 residents, Globe experienced significant economic and population decline in the 1930s following the closure of its mines. As in much of the rest of the United States, Globe’s economy and mining industry began to improve slightly in the 1940s due to wartime manufacturing demand for its primary resource, copper.

The Miami-Globe area was attuned to Cold War concerns that rattled the United States after World War II. Although Globe and Miami were remote towns, their residents still feared the prospect of war with the Soviet Union and encouraged their fellow citizens to prepare for that possibility. 

In 1953, Miami Copper finalized a contract with the Defense Materials Procurement Agency (DMPA), which helped increase American stockpiles of wartime materials. President Harry S. Truman established the DMPA by executive order in August 1951.  Federal contracts and subsidies like these helped keep the Miami-Globe area afloat amid the region’s dependence on the mining economy.

The Miami-Globe region, surrounded by cattle ranches,  also relied on a major cattle and agricultural industry.

A bird’s-eye view of Globe, Arizona, in the 1940s. Arizona State Library, Arizona Memory Project (96-3607).
The Old Dominion Copper Mine in Globe, which once mined copper and was later converted to supply water to Globe, 1920. Arizona State Library, Arizona Memory Project (97-1473).

Military Experience

Robert D. Canfield, Jr. originally joined the United States Army in January 1944. He attended pre-aviation cadet training. When this term of service expired in November 1945, Canfield was transferred to the enlisted reserve corps from November 1945 to November 1948. He then served as an aviation cadet from May 1949 to May 1950, mostly at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. 

On May 12, 1950, Canfield began his final term of service with the U.S. Air Force. He spent this time stationed at Mather Air Force Base, California, and Camp Stoneman, California, until his transfer to Taegu Air Base in South Korea in December 1951. In May 1951, while in California, Canfield married Shirley E. Haines.

Upon his arrival at Taegu Air Base, the Air Force assigned him to the 154th Fighter Bomber Squadron in the 136th Fighter Bomber Group. He piloted an F-84 Thunderjet.

The 136th Fighter Bomber Group was responsible for interdiction campaigns in Korea, aimed at disrupting enemy infrastructure, routes, supply lines, and other critical resources. During the Korean War, the U.S. Air Force determined that the best use of air power would be interdiction rather than close air support because of the nature of the war as a “static war,” in which neither side was making significant progress. The goal of these campaigns was to inflict heavy economic damage on North Korea to erode support for the war.

While North Korean railroads were significantly damaged via interdiction campaigns, the North Koreans could still move about half of their necessary supplies by train. They also began to rely more heavily on highways for transportation, which required more precision by American and UN bombing runs. At best, US and UN interdiction campaigns may have prevented the North Koreans from dramatically expanding their attacks.

The 136th Fighter Bomber Group largely focused on disrupting North Korean transportation routes (especially railroads) and destroying supplies needed by the North Koreans. In the spring of 1952, the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group began providing closer air support to front-line troops.

First Lieutenant Robert D. Canfield Jr. The Sacramento Union, February 5, 1952.
An F-84 Thunderjet, similar to the one piloted by First Lieutenant Canfield in Korea. National Museum of the United States Air Force (100608-F-1234S-039).
First Lieutenant Canfield’s 136th Fighter Bomber Squadron engaged in interdiction campaigns to destroy enemy railroad lines like the one pictured here. National Museum of the United States Air Force (100608-F-1234S-034).

Commemoration

On the morning of March 10, 1952, First Lieutenant Robert D. Canfield, Jr. departed from Taegu Air Base, South Korea, to engage in a bombing run with three other fighter-bomber pilots under the call sign of Baker flight. Their target was a North Korean locomotive near O’par-ri, a village about 20 miles north of Pyongyang. After Canfield and the other three members of Baker flight were unable to locate the locomotive, they instead completed their bombing run at a railroad marshaling yard to the south of the original target. 

At approximately 9:40 a.m., as Canfield was about to complete his bombing run about 2,000 feet above ground, another member of Baker flight noticed flames spewing up from the right wing of Canfield’s aircraft about two feet up from the wing root. At this time, the other members heard anti-aircraft guns going off and Canfield attempting to call over his radio, but they only heard his muffled voice and groans, which suggested to them that Canfield likely suffered injuries that impeded his ability to speak. Canfield’s aircraft sharply rolled to the right, eventually crashing and exploding on impact about one mile to the west of the bombing target. The other members of Baker flight did not see Lieutenant Canfield bail out, and Canfield was never reported to be a Prisoner of War.

Because the crash site was deep in enemy territory, the United States Air Force was and continues to be unable to search for First Lieutenant Canfield’s remains. On March 10, 1952, Canfield was listed as Missing in Action, and on March 17, 1952, based on testimony from the other pilots of Baker flight, he was officially presumed dead.

After his death, Canfield was awarded the Air Medal, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. 

He is memorialized at Court Eight of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawai’i. He is also memorialized on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance in Washington, D.C., and at the Arizona Korean War Veterans Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona. After his death, Canfield’s parents further memorialized him with a memorial marker at the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.

First Lieutenant Robert D. Canfield, Jr.’s name is inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Robert Canfield’s family placed a memorial marker at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. Find a Grave.
Robert Durham Canfield, Jr.’s name on the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 2026. Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“2nd Lt. Robert D. Canfield, Jr.” Sacramento Union [Sacramento, CA], February 5, 1952. Newspapers.com (998862422).

1940 Globe-Miami, Arizona, Consurvey Directory. State of Arizona Research Library- Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Arizona Memory Project (37462000). https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/161262.

Arizona. Gila County. 1930 Federal Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Arizona. Gila County. 1940 Federal Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

“Armed Forces Take 81 Men.” Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], January 22, 1944. Newspapers.com (117368990).

Bird’s-eye View of Globe. Photograph. 1940s. Arizona State Library, Arizona Memory Project (96-3607). https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/233225.

Charles Frank Canfield. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1880-1935. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Copper Mines and Smelters in Globe. Photograph. 1920. Arizona State Library, Arizona Memory Project (97-1473). https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/238400.

An F-84 crew chief cleans the canopy as the pilot straps in before a mission. Photograph.  National Museum of the United States Air Force (100608-F-1234S-039). https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos/igphoto/2000354356/.

“Former Flag Man Killed in Korea.” Arizona Daily Sun [Flagstaff, Arizona], March 25, 1952. Newspapers.com (516622983).

Globe High School in Globe. Photograph. Arizona State Library, Arizona Memory Project (96-3614). https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/233260.

Globe High School Yearbook. Globe Unified School District, 1941.

Globe High School Yearbook. Globe Unified School District, 1942.

Nevada. Clark County. 1950 Federal Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

“News About Men in Service Given.” Arizona Silver Belt [Globe, Arizona], December 13, 1956. Newspapers.com (51575969).

Nona Cristina Canfield. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1880-1960. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

“Phoenix Pilot Killed in Korea.” Arizona Republic [Phoenix, Arizona], March 23, 1952. Newspapers.com (117384039).

“Road Contract Bids Opened: Las Vegas Firm Has Low Figure.” Reno Evening Gazette [Reno, Nevada], April 11, 1942. Newspapers.com (147940449).

“Robert Canfield May Get Engineering Post.” The Arizona Daily Star [Tucson, Arizona], April 26, 1951. Newspapers.com (164147431).

Robert D. Canfield, Jr., Individual Deceased Personnel File, Department of the Air Force, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Robert D. Canfield, Jr., Individual Deceased Personnel File, Department of the Army, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Robert D. Canfield. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Robert Durham Canfield Jr. California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Robert Durham Canfield Jr. Texas, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1903-1932. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Robert Durham Canfield Jr. U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Robert Durham Canfield. Oklahoma, County Marriage Records, 1890-1995. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

Robert Durham Canfield Sr. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Robert Durham Canfield. Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed March 18, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/RobertDurhamCanfield/20BBB. 

“Sacramento Flier is Killed in Korea.” Sacramento Bee [Sacramento, California], April 7, 1952. Newspapers.com (624114178).

“A Time for Action.” Arizona Silver Belt (Globe, Arizona), August 7, 1952. Newspapers.com (51575706).

USAF light bombers destroyed this railroad bridge north of Pyongyang, North Korea. Photograph. National Museum of the United States Air Force (100608-F-1234S-034). https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos/igphoto/2000354364/.

“Varied Resources Brighten Future in Globe-Miami Area.” Arizona Silver Belt [Globe, Arizona], August 7, 1952. Newspapers.com (51575843).

“Vital Statistics: Marriage Licenses.” Sacramento Union [Sacramento, California], May 11, 1951. Newspapers.com (998946924).

Secondary Sources

“1st Lt. Robert Durham ‘Bob’ Canfield Jr.” Find a Grave. Updated June 12, 2012. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91832696/robert_durham-canfield. 

“1st Lt. Robert Durham Canfield Jr.” Defense Personnel POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XelFEAS. 

“136th Fighter Bomber Group.” Korean War Project. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.koreanwar.org/html/units/usaf/136fbg.htm.

Briggs, David F. Geology and History of the Globe-Miami Region, Gila and Pinal Counties, Arizona. University of Arizona, 2021: 105-106. https://data.azgs.arizona.edu/api/v1/collections/AGCR-1675724176940-393/cr-22-bglobe-miami-p108.pdf.

Carter, Gregory A. Some Historical Notes on Air Interdiction in Korea. The RAND Corporation, 1966. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0642348.pdf.

Edicott, Judy, Ed. The USAF in Korea: Campaigns, Units, and Stations, 1950-1953. Air Force Historical Research Agency, 2001. https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jun/12/2003737607/-1/-1/0/KOREA_CAMPAIGNS.PDF.

“History.” Globe and Miami Gazette. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://globe-arizona.com/history/. 

“Interdiction: Tightening the Noose.” National Museum of the United States Air Force. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196087/interdiction-tightening-the-noose/.

“Lieutenant Robert Durham ‘Bob’ Canfield Jr.” Find a Grave. Updated June 22, 2022. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240859151/robert-durham-canfield. 

“Robert D Canfield.” Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://koreanwarvetsmemorial.org/namesearch/robert-d-canfield/.

“Robert Durham Canfield Jr.” American Battle Monuments Commission. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://weremember.abmc.gov/s?q=canfield&v=G&type=16.

Wiegley, Russell F. The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy. Indiana University Press, 1973.

This profile was researched and created through the Researching Silent Heroes program, sponsored by the American Battle Monuments Commission.