First Lieutenant Spradley was a crew member of a C-54D Skymaster transport from the 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Wing. On 30 June 1950, while on the ground at Suwon, Korea, his aircraft was destroyed by a North Korean bombing strike. All 23 on board were killed.

Spradley was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.