Enrico J. Spatarella was born on December 10, 1923, in New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York. He was the son of Antonio Spatarella and Stella Dente Spatarella.

Enrico resided in New York County, New York, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on March 2, 1943, in New York City, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of miscellaneous products and also as Single, without dependents.

During World War II, served in the 860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner on the B-17G #43-38115 'Reluctant Lassie'. He was killed in the explosion of his airplane during a mission in Germany on September 30, 1944.

B-17G #43-38115 took off, with a crew of 9, from Station 152, England, on a bombing mission over Bielefeld, Germany. Near the target, they were believed to have been hit by bombs dropped from another B-17 that was above them causing his aircraft to explode and crash near Wellenkotten, Germany. Only one parachute was seen leaving B-17G #43-38115. The debris, due to the explosion of B-17G #43-38115, also caused B-17G #43-38480 to crash as well.

SSgt Spatarella's body was never recovered. His name is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38115:
Barton, Ernest R, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, MA
Gage, Stanton ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TX
Moss, Carroll E. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, MD
Spatarella, Enrico J. ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, NY
Stamps, Carrel W. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, OK
Tourtellott, Theodore ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, IL
Treece, Daniel R. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NJ
Welsh, James G. ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, NY

The only crew member to survive this crash was 2nd Lt. Artemon P. Johnston, the Navigator.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com