Bruce Keener Holloway was born on 1 September 1912 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1929 and studied engineering for two years at the University of Tennessee before attending Marion Military Institute. He received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1937. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps. Upon receiving his pilot wings in 1938 while stationed at Kelly Field, Texas he was then assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group in the Territory of Hawaii. This group flew the P-26, P-38 and many other aircraft during his two year stint in the islands. Holloway returned stateside and attended the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) with studies in Aeronautical Engineering.
In January 1942, a month after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Holloway was sent to Chungking, China to observe General Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG). The AVG was known as the Flying Tigers and flew P-40 aircraft with distinctive tigershark-teeth markings.
The Army Air Force activated the 23rd Fighter Group under the command of the new 14th Air Force in July and the AVG along with Holloway was folded into this group. The 23rd was under the command of Colonel Robert L. Scott Jr.. On Nov. 27, 1942, then Major Holloway, flew in support of a bombing raid on Canton, China, in which 23 Japanese planes were shot down without the loss of a single American plane. He downed a Japanese Zero fighter with his first burst of fire that day, was thought to have shot down another fighter in a dogfight and then destroyed a Japanese bomber.
In January 1943, Holloway replaced Scott, remembered for his wartime memoir ''God Is My Co-Pilot,'' as commander of the 23d Fighter Group. He returned to the United States in 1944 with an impressive combat record earning the status of "double-ace" by shooting down 13 Japanese planes and surviving getting shot down himself.
Post World War II 1940s-1950s
In 1946, Holloway became commander of the 412th Fighter Group at March Field, Calif., America's first jet-fighter outfit, flying Lockheed Shooting Stars.
He graduated from the National War College in 1951, and progressed through key staff assignments in both operations and development fields at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He was promoted to General in 1953.
1960s
General 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 (AFB), Florida. He took on additional responsibilities as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East/Southern Asia and Africa South of the Sahara Command.
Lt. General Holloway assumed command of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe in July 1965, was promoted to the four-star rank of General on 1 August 1965 and assumed Command of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He served in that command until his appointment as Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force on 1 August 1966. He became Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, on 1 August 1968 and remained in that position until his retirement from the Air Force.
As commander of the Strategic Air Command from 1968 to 1972, General Holloway oversaw more than 1,000 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 500 long-range jet bombers, which by 1971 provided 85 percent of the American strategic nuclear strength.
He retired on 30 April 1972.
U.S. Decorations
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Senior Command Pilot Wings
Paratroop Jump Wings
Foreign Decorations
Order of the Sacred Tripod (China)
Chinese Order of the Cloud
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
Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)
French Legion of Honor - Order of Commander.
2nd Lieutenant: June 12, 1937
1st Lieutenant: June 13, 1940
Captain: October 3, 1940
Major: March 4, 1942
Lt. Colonel: December 6, 1942
Colonel: May 5, 1943
Brigadier General: October 9, 1953
Major General: August 5, 1957
Lt. General: October 6, 1961
General: August 1, 1965
Artifacts: Jump wings and uniform buttons.
#Leadership #ContinuingEducation #Duty #Dedication
Lieutenant General Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (Army Design) for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Strike Command, from 1961 to 1965. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Holloway and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Lieutenant General Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, from 1966 to 1968. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Holloway and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
General Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding in Chief, Strategic Air Force; and as Director, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff , from 1968 to 1972. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Holloway culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Silver Star
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy as a Fighter Pilot and Commanding Officer, 23d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force, in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during world War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Legion of Merit
Colonel (Air Corps) Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with Headquarters, Army Air Forces, from 1944 to 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Holloway and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
Legion of Merit
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Major General Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Deputy Commanding General, TWELFTH Air Force, from 1957 to 1959. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Holloway and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Commanding Officer, 23d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force, in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Bruce Keener Holloway (ASN: 0-20664), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Commanding Officer, 23d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force, in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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