Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MC CLEARY, John - Date of
birth
25 June 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Spearker Township, Sanilac County, Michigan -
Hometown
St. Clair County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36875224 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
31 July 1944 - Place of
death
Munich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 38 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James D. Mc Cleary (father)
Janette N. (Lonnon) Mc Cleary (mother)
Ruth Mc Cleary (sister)
Donald Mc Cleary (brother)
Francis J. Mc Cleary (brother)
Joseph Mc Cleary (brother)
James Mc Cleary (brother)
Anna M. Mc Cleary (sister)
Geraldine J. (Caldwell) Mc Cleary (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-32030 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Devil's Luck
Target: Munich, Germany
MACR: 7744
More information
John Mc Cleary was a machine operator in the Packard Motor Car Company when he enlisted on 4 September 1943. He was acting corporal of a group of selectees who left Port Huron that day to begin training. After receiving basic training at Jefferson Barracks, he went to gunners' school in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he ranked seventh highest gunner among 475 men. Then he was sent to MacDill Field in Florida for 10 weeks. It was here he received his ratings. He was sent overseas in June 1944.He was married to Geraldine Caldwell in 1940.
A/C 42-32030 "Devil's Luck", was hit by flak over the target and blew-up. He was flying tail-end Charlie in the low Group.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Port Huron Times Herald, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Michel Beckers/Dick Henggeler-388th Bomb Group Historian, www.newspapers.com - The Port Huron Times Herald