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WWII Spokane veteran honored 70 years later

By Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton, 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs / Published March 24, 2014

Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army perform honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army perform honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Tech. Sgt. Terrill Castor inspects Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski’s uniform prior to a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. The honor guard represents the best of everything the Air Force offers and their uniforms is an important aspect of their service to the base and surrounding communities. Castor and Krolikowski are members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Tech. Sgt. Terrill Castor inspects Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski’s uniform prior to a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. The honor guard represents the best of everything the Air Force offers and their uniforms is an important aspect of their service to the base and surrounding communities. Castor and Krolikowski are members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard stand at parade rest in preparation for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard stand at parade rest in preparation for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army performed honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army performed honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard’s firing team salute as taps is played during a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard’s firing team salute as taps is played during a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army perform honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and the U.S. Army perform honor and color guard for a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Local U.S. Army honor guard members pay respect to the American flag during a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Local U.S. Army honor guard members pay respect to the American flag during a funeral service honoring Cpl. Lester Zornes at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Cpl. Lester Zornes’ flag is presented to his surviving family by a member of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard during a funeral service in his honor at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton/Released)
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Cpl. Lester Zornes’ flag is presented to his surviving family by a member of the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard during a funeral service in his honor at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, Wash., March 22, 2014. Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic when the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out crashing and immediately bursting into flames on March 22, 1944. Zornes was 19 with a career in Foreign Service that lasted just 11 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

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FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- A radio operator assigned to the 9th Army Air Corps and Spokane, Wash., native was honored 70 years after his death during a funeral and memorial service at Fairmount Memorial Park March 22 in Spokane.

Cpl. Lester Zornes was flying to England to prepare 82nd Airborne paratroopers for dropping behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day. Due to weather instability over the North Atlantic, the aircraft and crew diverted to the alternate route over the South Atlantic.

Several hours after leaving Roberts Field, Liberia, the starboard engine on their C-47 Skytrain gave out. The pilot tried making an emergency landing at Yundum Airfield in British-held Bathurst, Gambia, but the pilot came in too fast and at too sharp an angle. He tried pulling up at the end of the runway, but by then it was too late as the aircraft crashed immediately bursting into flames.

Zornes' career in Foreign Service lasted just 11 days at the age of 19. The memorial service was held on March 22 in remembrance of that frightful crash 70 years earlier on that same day in 1944.

There was never a memorial service in Spokane, nor an obituary or any permanent marker to remember him by. Zorne's surviving family members, including a sister, brother and cousins, have lamented that they never had a place to 'go to mourn,' and never witnessed any ceremony to honor his life, service and sacrifice.

The Fairchild Honor Guard and members of a local U.S. Army unit provided a seven-man firing party, a flag team with rifle guards and three-man flag fold team. With family, friends, community members and brothers and sisters in arms, Zorne received the honor he so deserved affording his family rest and comfort and ultimately, closure.