An Air Force employee disrespected the iconic astronaut John Glenn's remains by offering horrified Defense Department inspectors a look at the body before he was buried, according to an internal memo.

An investigation has been launched into the conduct of Dover Air Force Base mortuary chief William Zwicharowski, which was deemed 'inappropriate and personally shocking' in a memo obtained by the Military Times.

Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, died on December 8 at the age of 95 and his family trusted the Air Force to care for his remains before his burial at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on April 6, 2017.

Dover Air Force Base mortuary chief William Zwicharowski (left) offered inspectors a look at the body of John Glenn (right), according to an internal memo obtained by the Military Times

Glenn died on December 8 at the age of 95. His family trusted the Air Force to care for his remains before his burial at the Arlington National Cemetery on April 6, 2017 (pictured)

Glenn's family asked the Air Force to care for his remains to 'ensure an increased level of privacy and security for a renowned public servant, Marine Corps officer, and pioneer of space exploration,' the Military Times reported.

In a memo dated May 11, Deborah Skillman, the Defense Department's director of casualty and mortuary affairs, expressed her concerns regarding Zwicharowski's behavior.

He first offered the inspectors, along with junior personnel working at the Dover Mortuary Branch, to view Glenn's body on February 28, Skillman wrote.

Glenn's family asked the Air Force to care for his remains to 'ensure an increased level of privacy and security'. Pictured, Glenn's memorial on December 16

Skillman, who headed the inspection team to determine whether the facility was adhering to protocol, asked the deputy commander to speak to Zwicharowski, according to the memo.

Skillman (above) called Zwicharowski's conduct 'inappropriate and personally shocking'

But Zwicharowski made the same offer again on March 2, according to the memo.

Skillman said that on both occasions, the inspectors declined.

Zwicharowski has not responded to the claims made in the memo.

An investigation is ongoing, and Air Force Spokesperson Patrick Ryder said: 'If any allegations of misconduct are substantiated, those involved will be held accountable.'

Zwicharowski and two other employees at the mortuary were honored with Public Servant of the Year awards after they reported body parts were improperly disposed in land fills or deemed medical waste.

In a 2013 interview, Zwicharowski said: 'I want to guarantee the families of our fallen, in the past and in the future, that they're treated with honor, dignity and respect here at Dover. ... As long as I'm here, they'll be treated that way.'

In the memo, Skillman made it a point to emphasize the ongoing investigation was not retaliation for Zwicharowski's whistleblowing.

Glenn was heralded as a hero when he became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth

Glenn passed away in Columbus, Ohio, more than a week after he was first hospitalized for an unknown illness.

He made history on February 20, 1962 by becoming the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. Glenn later went on to become an Ohio senator.