Norbert Anthony Zwicke – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

Norbert Anthony Zwicke, 80, a retired Air Force colonel who had been a logistics officer with the National Wildlife Federation in Vienna in the 1970s, died October 23, 2000 at the Sunrise of Oakton assisted living community. He had Alzheimer’s disease.

Colonel Zwicke enlisted in the Army in 1941 and was commissioned in the Army Air Forces in 1942. During World War II, he was a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber-navigator with the 8th Air Force in Britain. He flew 26 combat missions. After the war, his assignments included a tour at the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command.

His last assignment before retiring from active duty in 1971 was with the Defense Communications Agency here. He managed procurement of computer systems used in White House automation operations.

His military decorations included two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.

Colonel Zwicke, who had lived in Fairfax since 1965, was a native of Milwaukee.

He studied at the music conservatory of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and played guitar in a dance music combo before joining the Army.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Virginia “Ginny” Zwicke of Fairfax; two sons, Michael, of Springfield, and Philip, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a daughter, Christina Gregerson of Clifton; and 11 grandchildren.

ZWICKE, NORBERT A., Col., USAF (Ret.)

On Monday, October 23, 2000, at Sunrise of Oakton, NORBERT A ZWICKE, beloved husband of 55 years to Virginia Zwicke; father of Michael and Philip Zwicke and Christina Gregerson; grandfather of Andrew, Jonathan, Meredith, Christopher, Eric, Jeffrey, Megan and Sean. A memorial service will be held at Ft. Myer Chapel on Friday, November 3, at 10:45 a.m. Inurnment Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 8316 Arlington Blvd., #401, Fairfax, VA 22031, or Hospice of Northern Virginia, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042. Arrangements by EVERLY’S

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