# Bruce K. Holloway

General Bruce Keener Holloway (September 1, 1912 – September 30, 1999) was a United States Air Force general. 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

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.

## 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. He returned to the US in 1944.

## Post-war

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.

## Senior commands and retirement

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:

### Badges

* US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
* Parachutist Badge

### Personal decorations

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

### Campaign and service medals

* 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

### Service, training, and marksmanship awards

* 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

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

## Effective dates of promotion

Source:
| 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 |