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 Force s , 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 . < br > His remains were cremated and interred in his hometown of Knoxville , Tennessee . See also . Len Blaylock External links . Legion of Honor - Order of Commander