Morris Albert Cannon

by Elliot Morris Cannon
(Paso Robles, California)

Morris A. (Moe) Cannon was my Father. I decided on this Fathers Day to look up more information on my Dad's war experience. He was part of the HALPRO mission that was originally supposed to bomb Japan out of an airstrip in China. By the time his group was trained and ready to go, the Japanese had over run the airstrip they were to use and the Brits. had their hands full in North Africa, so Dad's group the 376th was sent to Bengazi. Dad's plane commanded by C.O. Brown was shot down while bombing the Italian fleet. My Father was the only survivor of his crew. Dad swam in the Med. over three hours, was picked up by an Italian freighter and handed over to the Germans. He then spent 34 months as a POW in Germany in various stalags. All of Dad's crew was thought to have perished when the crew went down. Moe survived the POW camps, came home, got married and had two children, my Sister and I.
I served in the US Air Force from 1966 to 1970 and served as an In Flight Refueling Systems Technician. My last year of service was spent as a Staff Sergeant in the 4252nd Strategic Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. The 4252 was designated as a temporary group. A few months after I arrived, it was designated as a permanent wing and was designated the 376th Strategic Wing. My Father and I served in the same outfit one generation apart. Enclosed is the only picture available of my Dad's crew. My Father is in the bottom row, left side with his hand on his cheek. The pilot C.O. Brown in top row on the far right. The pilot's Mother Lettie Brown was a close family friend until her death at age 93. I have also enclosed a picture of the patch my Father wore and I wore.

Comments for Morris Albert Cannon

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Crew photo
by: Elliot M. Cannon

I can identify the crew members in my Dad's crew photo. Left to right standing: Cutler, radio operator SSgt. Hazelet, Mech. SSgt. Anderson, Navigator 2nd.lt. Taylor, Co-Pilot 2nd.lt. Brown, pilot 2nd.Lt. Front row left to right. Morris Cannon (my Dad), Engineer/gunner SSgt. Thompson, gunner Cpl. Osgood, gunner Cpl.
The Italian ship that rescued my Dad also recovered the pilot's body. My Father identified him as "Brownie" the pilot of his crew. I can be reached at flymach86@hotmail.com
Cheers, Elliot

Jul 20, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Brown crew photo
by: Randy Wells

Thanks for the comment and I see that the photo was recently added under the Air Crews section . I'm grateful Mr. Cannon provided it to the website.

Jul 20, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Lt. Anderson
by: Anonymous

Anderson is standing in the middle of the back row in the light uniform.

Jul 19, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Brown Crew member photo
by: Randy Wells

Hello there, I'm doing quite a bit of research on Lt Malcolm Anderson who was the Bombardier-Navigator on this crew. This is the first crew photo I've ever seen and didn't think one existed. You've identified your father and Lt Brown in the photo, but could you shed some light on Lt Anderson's placement in the photo? I returned from NY about 10 days ago and went to the Long Island National Cemetery and viewed the burial card for Anderson at the cemetery. I'd like to email you for additional data regarding your Dad's crew.
I also fly for the AF as a crew member. I look forward to your response.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Our veteran's stories.

376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

Donate directly to the 376 Endowment

To read about other endowment donation options, click here.


My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 26-29, 2024

CITY:Tucson, AZ

HOTEL: Double Tree Suites Airport hotel

7051 South Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756

520-225-0800


Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando