Bruce K. Holloway

General Bruce Keener Holloway (September 1, 1912 – September 30, 1999) was an American Air Force general. A West Point graduate, he was a World War II fighter ace and later the commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

Early life and career
From Knoxville, Tennessee, he was one of two children of 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, where he prepared 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.

World War II
After The US enter World War II Holloway was sent to China to observer Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG), the Flying Tigers. He became the commander of the 23rd Fighter Group U.S. Army Air Forces. During his tour in China, Holloway earned status as a fighter ace, shooting down 13 Japanese planes. He returned to the U.S. in 1944.

Post-War
As commander of the Army Air Forces' first jet-equipped fighter group in 1946, Holloway 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 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 AFB, 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.

Commands
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 August 1, 1966 at the Pentagon. He became commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, on August 1, 1968, and remained in that position until his retirement from the Air Force in 1972.

Awards and decorations
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), Order of the Cloud and Banner, 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 Commander of the French Légion d'honneur.

Holloway retired from the USAF on April 30, 1972, and died of heart failure at age 87 in Orlando, Florida, on September 30, 1999. His remains were cremated and interred in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee.