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Bruce K. Holloway
General Bruce K. Holloway
Born(1912-09-01)September 1, 1912
Knoxville, Tennessee
DiedSeptember 30, 1999(1999-09-30) (aged 87)
Orlando, Florida
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1937–1972
RankGeneral
Commands heldStrategic Air Command (1968–72)
U.S. Air Forces in Europe (1965–66)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medal (3)

General Bruce Keener Holloway (September 1, 1912 – September 30, 1999) was a United States Air Force general.[1] A West Point graduate, he was a fighter ace with the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and later served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command.

Early life and career

Claire Chennault's fighter commanders in China. Holloway is standing right.

Holloway was one of two children born to Frank P. Holloway, a mill owner, and Elizabeth Keener, a homemaker. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1929 and studied engineering for two years at the University of Tennessee before attending Marion Military Institute, preparing for appointment to the United States Military Academy, where he graduated in 1937. Assigned to the Army Air Corps, he received his pilot wings in 1938 at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, then served two years with the Sixth Pursuit Squadron and 18th Pursuit Group in Hawaii before taking a postgraduate course in aeronautical engineering at the California Institute of Technology.[2][3]

World War II

After The US entered World War II in December 1941, Holloway was sent to China to observe Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG), the Flying Tigers. He became the commander of the 23rd Fighter Group USAAF. During his China tour, Holloway earned status as a fighter ace, shooting down 13 Japanese planes.[4][5] He returned to the US in 1944.

Post-war

General Bruce K. Holloway during his tenure as Vice Chief of Staff of The United States Air Force accompanying Strategic Air Command Commanders-in-Chief General Joseph J. Nazzaro greeted United States Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. McConnell at Strategic Air Command's Headquarters in Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, August 1, 1968.

As commander of the Army Air Forces' first jet-equipped fighter group in 1946, Holloway pioneered in this new field of tactical jet air operations.

After graduation from the National War College in 1951, he progressed through key staff assignments in both operations and development fields at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Later, as director of operational requirements, he played a key role in preparing and evaluating proposals for many aircraft and missiles.

Holloway spent four years in Tactical Air Command (TAC) as deputy commander of both the 9th and 12th Air Forces, and in 1961 he was named deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Strike Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Later in that assignment, he also fulfilled additional responsibilities as deputy commander in chief of the Middle East/Southern Asia and Africa South of the Sahara Command.[6]

Senior commands and retirement

Commanders-in-Chief of The Strategic Air Command General Bruce K. Holloway during a visit to Beale Air Force Base on April 9, 1970.

General Holloway assumed command of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe in July 1965, serving in that capacity until his appointment as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on August 1, 1966, at The Pentagon. He became commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, on August 1, 1968, and remained in that position until retiring from the Air Force on 30 April 1972.

Holloway died of heart failure at age 87 in Orlando, Florida on 30 September 1999. His remains were cremated and interred in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Awards and decorations

Holloway's decorations include:[6][7]

Badges

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Parachutist Badge

Personal decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster[7]
Army Distinguished Service Medal[7]
Silver Star[7]
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster[7]
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster[7]
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster

Campaign and service medals

American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star

Service, training, and marksmanship awards

Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters

Foreign awards

Grand Official of the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)
Fifth Class of the Order of the Sacred Tripod (China)
Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner (China)
War Memorial Medal (China)
Commander of the Legion of Honour (France)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with star and sash (West Germany)
Knight Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (Thailand)

Foreign badges

Effective dates of promotion

Source:[8]

Insignia Rank Date
General August 1, 1965
Lieutenant general October 6, 1961
Major general August 5, 1957
Brigadier general October 9, 1953
Colonel May 5, 1943
Lieutenant colonel December 6, 1942
Major March 4, 1942
Captain October 3, 1940
First lieutenant June 13, 1940
Second lieutenant June 12, 1937


See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

  1. ^ Snyder, Thomas; Shaw, Shelia (January 28, 1992). "Profiles In Leadership 1942-1992". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 138–145. Archived from the original on 2021-11-30. Retrieved October 18, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Marion Military Institute – archives – April 2009 – Bruce K. Holloway '33 – accessed 31 October 2010
  3. ^ Jackson, Kenneth T.; Markoe, Karen; Markoe, Arnie (2001). The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: 1997–1999. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-684-80663-1.
  4. ^ Air Force magazine – "Valor: Flying Tiger" – Bruce Holloway – April 1993 – accessed 31 October 2010
  5. ^ One memorable flight over Kunming on 15 May 1943 is described in Edward H. Sims' book American Aces in Great Fighter Battles of World War II as the third chapter of that documentary.
  6. ^ a b "AF.mil". Archived from the original on 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-11-01. – General Bruce K. Holloway – official USAF biography – 1968 – accessed 31 October 2010
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Bruce Keener Holloway". Military Times. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  8. ^ "Personal Fact Sheet, Bruce K. Holloway". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 1965. pp. 34–37. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

Military offices Preceded byJoseph J. Nazzaro Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command 1968–1972 Succeeded byJohn C. Meyer Preceded byWilliam H. Blanchard Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 1966–1968 Succeeded byJohn Dale Ryan
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