Zorner studied mechanical engineering in Stuttgart and entered the field of refrigeration engineering before he rejoined the West German Air Force ( Luftwaffe ) in 1956 . He was not passed fit to fly jet fighters and returned to civilian life in May 1957 . He was employed within the chemical industry . He retired in 1981 as a chief engineer with Hoechst near Frankfurt . In May 2006 , Zorner received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany ( ) for his voluntary services as founder of the " Silesian Partnership " ( ) . The association , which was founded in 1995 , aims to improve German-Polish relations and , among other things , has organised help during the 1997 Central European flood . Zorner died on 27 January 2014 in Homburg
1997 Central European flood
1997 Central European flood
Paul Zorner