Norman W Birzer

Norman Birzer received his Naval Aviator wings in 1968 and flew with the ‘Argonauts’ of VA-147 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. He made two combat cruises to Vietnam in the USS America (CVA-66) and USS Constellation (CVA-64). As the squadron Weapons Training Officer, he was intimately involved in planning tactical strategies for many important combat missions in 1971-72. He later managed reserve Corsair II squadrons on the West Coast, and served a joint-staff tour in Germany as an anti-terrorism staff officer. Retiring from the Navy in 1987, Norman began a 15-year airline career with American Airlines, retiring as a Boeing 767 International Captain in New York. Since then he has directed the Wings of Freedom Airshow in Frederick, Maryland, where he resides with his wife Carol.