GENERAL BRUCE K. HOLLOWAY
Retired
May 01,1972
Died September 30,1999
PRINT | E-MAIL
General Bruce K. Holloway is commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command. SAC is the United States' long-range strike force comprised of a mixture of combat aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
General Holloway's home is in Knoxville, Tenn. He studied engineering for two years at the University of Tennessee before entering the U.S. Military Academy, where he graduated in 1937. After receiving his pilot wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, in 1938, he served for 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.
Shortly after the United States entered World War II, he went to Chungking, China, to begin his combat experience as a fighter pilot with the famed "Flying Tigers" of the American Volunteer Group. Remaining with that group after it was activated as the Army Air Force's 23d Fighter Group, he became its commander before returning to the United States in 1944. During that tour in China, General Holloway earned status as a fighter ace, shooting down 13 Japanese planes.
As commander of the Air Force's first jet-equipped fighter group in 1946, the general performed pioneer service 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 of our present aircraft and missiles.
He spent four years in Tactical Air Command 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, Fla. 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.
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 U.S. Air Force Aug. 1, 1966.
His decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and foreign decorations which include the Order of the Sacred Tripod (China), Chinese Order of the Cloud, Chinese Air Force Pilot Wings, The Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with Star and Sash, German Air Force Command Pilot Wings, The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand-First Class--Knight Grand Cross, Honorary Royal Thai Air Force Wings, the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil), and French Legion of Honor - Order of Commander.
(Current as of Aug. 30, 1968)