| John McCleary served with Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two.
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| By August 1942, Sergeant (Air Gunner) John McCleary was with 61 Squadron.
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| On the night of 24th August 1942, Sergeant McCleary was on board a Lancaster bomber (Serial No R5662) which took off on a night raid from RAF Syerston, north east of Nottingham. The target was Frankfurt, Germany.
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| On 25th August the aircraft crashed at Efferen, six kilometres south east of Cologne. All the crew were killed including Sergeant (Air Gunner) John McCleary. The crew were:
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Flight Sergeant Joseph Mckay ATKINSON (R/66686) Wireless Operator
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Sergeant Anthony Frederick Phillip CURSETT-SUTHERLAND (923436) Wireless Operator
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Flight Sergeant Benjamin John DAVIS (928365) Observer
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Sergeant Harold EKIN (627523) Air Gunner
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Flight Sergeant Noel Roy MEYER (405303) Pilot
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Sergeant John McCLEARY (1126145) Air Gunner
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Wing Commander George Harcus SHEEHAN (37587) Pilot
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| The crew were originally buried in Cologne South Cemetery.
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| They were reinterred on 15th May 1946 in a collective grave in Rheinberg War Cemetery in Germany.
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| Sergeant (Air Gunner) John McCleary is commemorated locally on Newmills Church of Ireland WW2 Plaque and on Dungannon War Memorial.
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