Middletown in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
James K. Caniford
Senior Master Sergeant
| | United States Air Force | |
On June 10, 1966, shortly after graduating from Middletown High School, James entered the U.S. Air Force. He received specialized training at the Flight Line Aircraft Mechanic School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. On March 29, 1972, while serving as a crew member on an AC-130A, his plane was downed by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) over Laos. Search efforts were suspended a few days later due to negative results and extremely hostile forces in the area of the crash. James is officially listed by the Department of Defense as "Unaccounted for in Southern Asia."
[Additional plaque below:]
An excavation of the crash site on November 21, 2006 recovered remains of the crew. Senior Master Sergeant James Caniford's remains were identified on February 12, 2008. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on May 20, 2008.
Erected 1994.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is February 12, 2008.
Location. 39° 26.718′ N, 77° 33.035′ W. Memorial is in Middletown, Maryland, in Frederick County. It can be reached from
this page online
Regionally, this memorial is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Smithfield House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 301 West Main Street (about 700 feet away); Joshua Beckwith House (about 800 feet away); Appleman's Tannery (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Middletown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lamar House (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Middletown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Middletown in the Civil War (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in
![James K. Caniford Marker [Lower plaque with updated information] image. Click for full size.](Photos5/511/Photo511487.jpg?31202061900PM "James K. Caniford Marker [Lower plaque with updated information]. Click for full size.")
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 1, 2020
2. James K. Caniford Marker [Lower plaque with updated information]
Other markers no longer nearby. Middletown (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Middletown (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 261 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
