Norman S. Orwat – Major General, United States Air Force

Courtesy of the United States Air Force

MAJOR GENERAL NORMAN S. ORWAT
Retired September 1, 1969, Died March 21, 1991

Major General Norman Stanley Orwat was the deputy director for plans and policy (J-5), Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Orwat was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1920. He is a graduate of The George Washington University. He also attended Georgetown University and the School of International Affairs, Columbia University.

After flying training at Randolph and Brooks fields, Texas, he received his commission and pilot’s wings in 1942. Following operational training as a fighter pilot with the 48th Fighter Group in the southern United States, he was assigned to Europe with the 48th, which was based originally in England and, after the Normandy invasion, in France, Belgium and Germany. He flew 107 combat missions over Europe and commanded the 494th and 492d Fighter Squadrons of the 48th Fighter Group.

Upon his return from Europe in July 1945, General Orwat served in the Directorate of Military Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He left that post in 1948 to begin an intensive course of study of the Russian language and the Soviet Union at the Army Language School, Presidio of Monterey, Calif., and the Russian Institute, Columbia University.

In January 1951 he was assigned as assistant executive officer and aide to the commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and to the commander in chief, Allied Air Forces Central Europe. In 1953 he was assigned to the air deputy, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

In August 1955 he was appointed commander of the 1st Fighter Group at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan Following graduation from the Air War College in 1958, he was assigned to the directorate of plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where he served as the assistant deputy director for war plans,

After graduation from the National War College in 1962, he returned to SHAPE as chief of nuclear planning. In June 1963 he was appointed as the executive officer to the Supreme Allied Commander. In August 1967 he was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as deputy director for plans and policy (J-5).

His military decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre.

General Orwat was buried with full military honors in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard