John William Zappala was born on July 22, 1918, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Charles Zappala and Pietrina Pergolizzi Zappala. He was the husband of Esther Theresa McDonough.

He enlisted in the Army on October 6, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Machinist and also as Single, without dependents.

John served in the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17G "Bermondsay Battler" #42-39895 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on February 22, 1944, when his aircraft was shot down over Germany and crashed at Detmold. He is now buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

Crew of B-17 "Bermondsay Battler" (#42-39895):
Eden, Lawrence V., S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, New Jersey

Evans, Rowland H., 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Maryland

Kaufman, Harold W., 2nd Lt, Bombardier, Illinois

Kemper, Harold C., T/Sgt, Engineer, Kentucky

Larson, Lester P., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, New Jersey

Manning, Andrew F., S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, Nebraska

Meier, Leonard P., 2nd Lt, Navigator, New York

Smith, Lee W., 1st Lt, Pilot, Indiana

Solway, Reginald C., Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, Washington

Zappala, John W., T/Sgt, Massachusetts

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov