World War II Honoree

Charles E. 'Charley' Bare

Hometown

Wichita, Kansas

Honored By

Linda, Charles II, John

Relationship

Children

HE WAS DEFERRED FROM MILITARY SERVICE DUE TO OCCUPATION IN A WAR INDUSTRY. HE WAS A FOREMAN AT BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPANY IN WICHITA, KANSAS, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEN AND EQUIPMENT TO ROLL OUT OVER 1,500 BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS BOMBERS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS FOR SERVICE IN WWII. HE AND HIS CREWS WORKED OVERTIME TO BE READY EVERY AFTERNOON WHEN TWO B-29 AIRCRAFT WITH THEIR BIG TAIL ASSEMBLIES WERE PULLED THROUGH THE PLANT DOORS. AN OLD CHURCH BELL WAS FOUND AND HIS CREWS WELDED A FRAME AND INSTALLED THE BELL HIGH ABOVE THE FOUR ASSEMBLY LINES TO RING EVERY TIME THE B-29'S ROLLED OUT. IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE EVENT AND QUITE AN HONOR FOR HIM TO RING THE VICTORY BELL OR TO DRIVE ONE OF THE TRACTORS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME THROUGH THE BAY DOORS. AN ARTICLE AND PHOTO WITH HIM APPEARED IN TIME, THE WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE ISSUE OF JANUARY 17, 1944 WHICH CHRONICLED THE VICTORY BELL AND THE B-29 BOMBERS WHICH BOEING MADE FOR THE WAR EFFORT.