Henri Zannoni

PELHAM -- Henri "Eddie"

Zannoni, 88, of Pelham, a World War II veteran who aided China's liberation from Japan as part of the legendary Flying Tigers, died Monday evening, May 28, at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua.

He was the husband of Caroline R. (Bowley) Zannoni of Pelham, to whom he was married for 60 years.

He was born in Lowell on Sept. 6, 1918, son of the late Egisto and the late Theresa (Zammarchi) Zannoni. He attended Lowell schools, including Lowell High School.

He was a sergeant with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Mr. Zannoni received the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze service stars, Efficiency Honor, Fidelity (Good Conduct Medal) and the World War II Freedom Medal. Mr. Zannoni was issued the China War Memorial Medal by the Republic of China and was eligible for the Silver Cloud Medal issued by the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Zannoni served with the original Flying Tigers of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) under the command of Capt. Claire Chennault. He was with the first 19 men who were assigned to relieve the AVGs before the original Flying Tigers were inducted into the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Before retiring, Mr. Zannoni was a plant engineer for more than 50 years at P.J. Keating in Dracut.

He was a founding member of the National Air and Space Society at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and a charter member of the American Legion Post 100 in Pelham, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Pelham and a lifetime member of the CBI Hump Pilots Association. He was also a charter member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the Flying Tigers Association, China-Burma-India Veterans Association, the 23rd Fighter Group-74th Fighter Squadron and the 490th Bomb Squadron and the 341st Bomb Group.

Besides his wife, he is survived by five daughters and three sons-in-law, Donna Zannoni, Theresa and Frank Torre, all of Londonderry, N.H., Noreen and Thomas Heffner of Sykesville, Md., Elaine and Edward Silva of Dracut, and Caroline Sturtevant, residing in Maine; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Henri E. Zannoni Jr., Paul T. and Patricia Ann Zannoni, and Joseph V. Zannoni, all of Pelham.

He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, Kelly Lee and her husband, Shannon of Fryeburg, Maine, Kerry D'Orio and her husband, Brendt of Marblehead, Mass., Heather Torre of Charlotte, N.C., Theresa Vann and her husband, Shane of Standardsville, Va., Dane Hoover and his wife, Tracy of Salem, N.H., Noreen Collins and her husband, David of Fredericksburg, Va., Thomas Heffner, Jr. and his wife, Sigrid of Ellicott City, Md., E.J. Silva of Manchester, Christine Silva of Dracut, Debbie Zannoni of Pace, Fla., April Newcomb, residing in Maine, Darren Sturtevant and Michael Sturtevant, both residing in Maine, Mathew Zannoni, Kira Zannoni, Ryan Zannoni, Katelynn Zannoni, all of Pelham, Joseph Zannoni, Jr., and Sarah Zannoni, both of Windham.

He also leaves 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Burk of St. Petes Beach, Fla.; a brother, Terrence "Jr" Zannoni of Dracut; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also father of the late Deborah Zannoni, and brother of the late Paul Zannoni, Anita Normandin, Lena Faticanti, and Nora Kane.