A World War II pilot has been laid to rest more than 75 years after his death.
Family members of 1st Lt. Ottaway Cornwell gathered on Sept. 23 at Houston National Cemetery to honor the Army veteran.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Cornwell was born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1921 and moved to Houston where he later attended high school. He joined the Army Air Forces soon after and married his wife only four days before deploying for combat in World War II.
As a member of the 12th Air Force, 52nd Fighter Group, 4th Fighter Squadron, he was flying a Spitfire JK-948 on a reconnaissance mission on Jan. 27, 1944, when his plane was shot down in Southern France.
Cornwell’s remains were found in 2016 when a Frenchman discovered debris and bone fragments from the crash near his home. A DNA analysis in 2018 confirmed the remains to be Cornwell.
With the help of Cornwell’s family and the American, French and German governments, Cornwell’s remains came home to Texas.
The Patriot Guard Riders escorted his remains to his final resting place at Houston National Cemetery. Numerous community members also came to the ceremony to pay respect to Cornwell and his service.
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“Lieutenant Cornwell played an important part of our history and we never want to forget the sacrifice he gave to this country,” said Roy Luera, Houston National Cemetery director. “Not everyone here today may have known him, but he is still our brother and we are honored to finally give him a proper burial.”
VA operates 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 44 states and Puerto Rico. More than five million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA cemeteries.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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