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 .