Enrico R. Ciotti was born on March 17, 1924 to his parents Leonard and Marie.  He and his brother and sisters grew up in West Grove.  He had three brothers named Emidio, Warren, and Pasquale. He also had three sisters named Clara, Mary Grace, and Anna.  He was the youngest of the family.  His parents owned and operated the General Store then located on Rt. 896 and Valley Road in Kelton.  His family was Catholic and very religious.  They attended Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church.

Enrico entered the service on July 15, 1943.  He trained in Florida and New England before going to the West Coast.  As a member of the Eighth Air Force, Enrico obtained the rank of sergeant.  He served as a waist gunner aboard a B-24 "Liberator" heavy bomber.  He and the crew's other waist gunner were killed in action on the Western Front during his 28^th mission over Germany.  He died on April 9, 1945.  He was 21 years old.

 

For more information on Enrico Ciotti's last mission, visit the 458th Bombardment Group web site.

Enrico Ciotti, posing with his crew and B-24 aircraft.  Front Row, second from Left. 
Click each for larger images.
 
Crew photo, courtesy of 458th Bombardment Group web site.

Solemn Requiem Mass was held for Staff Sergeant Enrico R. Ciotti at the Church of the Assumption in West Grove on January 13, 1949.  Services were held at the William W. Fahey Post of the American Legion, which provided an honor guard for burial at St. Mary’s cemetery with full military honors.

His older brothers Emidio and Pasquale operated an electrical contracting business in his home community.  They were also firefighters.  Enrico was to join them in their business after the war.