Bruce K. Holloway

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]

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.

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]

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.

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

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

Parachutist Badge

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

	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star

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

	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)

• Republic of China Air Force pilot wings
• German Air Force pilot wings
• Honorary Royal Thai Air Force Wings

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