Charles W Cleary

Military
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-50441) nicknamed "Hollywood and Vine" of the 453rd Bomb Group in flight. Image via S. Lester Kitts. Written on slide casing: 'E8:l, 250441, 734 BS, Hollywood and Vine. 9/44.' media-395484.jpg FRE 6664 B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Hollywood and Vine" of the 453rd Bomb Group in flight. Arrived in the UK 28 May 1944. Originally assigned to 491 BG. Transferred to 734 BS of 453 BG date unknown. My Dad, Zwinglio Frausto, told us that on January 13, 1945, returning from a mission, enemy flak knocked out one of the engines and rendered landing gear inoperable. He said that pilots Charles W. Cleary and John C McArdle were able to guide the aircraft to liberated Belgium and crash landed; all the crew got out without a scratch. Aircraft was salvaged on the Continent in January 1945. Photo thanks to the 453rd Bomb Group (H) Memorial Association Roger Freeman Collection

update

Object Number - FRE 6664 - B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Hollywood and Vine" of the 453rd Bomb Group in flight. Arrived in the UK 28 May 1944. Originally assigned to 491 BG....

Charles died April 16 2004

Connections

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Units served with

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

453rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-29005

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Dolly's Sister
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-50441) nicknamed "Hollywood and Vine" of the 453rd Bomb Group in flight. Image via S. Lester Kitts. Written on slide casing: 'E8:l, 250441, 734 BS, Hollywood and Vine. 9/44.'

42-50441

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Hollywood & Vine
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron

42-50703

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator nicknamed" Crow's Nest" of the 34th Bomb Group. Handwritten on reverse: '34 BG'.

42-94766

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Crow's Nest
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron

Unknown

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Leave Us Face It
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Boston, Massachusetts 20 June 1918

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

453rdBG newsletter Sept 2004

Date
ContributorB24Cleary
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

JCC - son of LtCol(ret) CW Cleary

Date
Contributorezf
ChangesChanges to middlename and media associations
Sources

Photo Courtesy Ernie Z. Frausto

Date
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Charles W Cleary: Gallery (4 items)