Mark Edward Bradley

General Mark Edward Bradley (December 10, 1907 – May 22, 1999) was a United States Air Force general and a pioneering aviator. He served as commander of the U.S. Air Force Logistics Command.

Biography
General Bradley was born in Clemson, South Carolina in 1907. After three years at Clemson High School, he attended Clemson A&M College and in July 1926 entered the United States Military Academy, graduated in June 1930, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. He graduated from flying school in 1931 and was rated a pilot.

General Bradley's first assignment as an Air Corps officer was at Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he served as a fighter pilot in the 27th Pursuit Squadron. In 1934 he graduated from the Air Corps Technical School and assigned to the 18th Pursuit Group at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Graduating from the Engineering School at Wright Field, Ohio, in July 1938, General Bradley was assigned to the Flight Test Section as a test pilot. Then he was, in succession, P-47 project officer, a project officer in the Pursuit Branch of the Materiel Division, chief of the Fighter Branch, and chief of the Flight Test Section.

Going to Europe in January 1945, General Bradley became deputy commanding officer of the 1st Tactical Air Force Service Command. In May 1945 he was assigned to the Fifth Air Force in the Philippines, becoming chief of staff in October 1945, on its subsequent move to Japan. In February 1946 he assumed command of the 301st Fighter Wing on Okinawa where he remained until October 1946.

In November 1946 General Bradley was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, as assistant director of the college's Plans and Operations Division.

Returning to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in April 1948, the general was appointed to the Air Materiel Command's Directorate of Procurement and Industrial Planning as deputy director, becoming director of procurement and production in July 1951.

In April 1953, General Bradley was named assistant chief of staff for materiel, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. In August he became deputy commander in chief and chief of staff, USAFE.

Returning to the United States in July 1956, General Bradley was appointed assistant deputy chief of staff for materiel at Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C. He became deputy chief of staff for materiel on June 30, 1959. His position was redesignated deputy chief of staff for systems and logistics in 1961.

On July 1, 1962, General Bradley became commander, Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, with concurrent promotion to general.

Awards and decorations
Among his decorations are the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal and the French Croix de Guerre. A command pilot, he flew six combat missions during World War II for a total of 32 combat hours. His campaign ribbons - all with battle stars - include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1965. After retirement, he became an executive vice-president of the Garrett Corporation. He died on May 22, 1999 and was buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery.