William E. Bryan Jr.

William Elmer Bryan Jr. (October 5, 1921 - April 6, 2008) was a United States Air Force Major General and a flying ace. Bryan flew combined total of 235 combat missions in World War II and Korean War, and was credited in destroying 7.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II. He retired in 1974, after 33 years of distinguished service.

Early life Bryan was born on October 5, 1921, in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Flint High School in 1939.

World War II

On August 9, 1943, Bryan was promoted to first lieutenant. In March 1944, he was assigned to the 504th Fighter Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group in the European Theater of Operations. Based at RAF Fowlmere, he flew missions in the North American P-51 Mustang.

Bryan was credited with a shared aerial victory of a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 over Dannenberg, Germany on May 24, 1944. He was credited with his first solo aerial victories on May 30, when he shot down two Fw 190s over Magdeburg, Germany. Scoring additional aerial victories, he finally became a flying ace on December 31, 1944, when he shot down a Fw 190, his fifth aerial victory, over Hamburg, Germany. Bryan scored his final aerial victories (sixth and seventh aerial victories) on March 2, 1945, over Magdeburg.

During World War II, Bryan was credited with the destruction of 7.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable, and 1 destroyed on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. Ranking him as top scoring ace of the 339th FG, he flew an unnamed P-51B and P-51D bearing the name "Big Noise". He flew a total of 114 missions, and was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and fifteen Air Medals during the war.

Post war At the end of the war in December 1945, Bryan returned to the United States. He served at Headquarters of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, and then as an advisor to Air National Guard fighter squadrons in Minnesota and South Dakota. In August 1949 he was assigned as operations and training officer for an Air Force Reserve wing at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

In June 1969 he returned to the United States and was assigned as chief of staff for Headquarters of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. In December 1970, Bryan assumed duties as commander of the Nineteenth Air Force, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. His final assignment was with Allied Forces Central Europe headquarters in July 1972 with duties as deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence and as senior U.S. representative to the headquarters.

Aerial victory credits SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations General Bryan is a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours of flying time. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, and Air Medal with 23 oak leaf clusters.

Distinguished Service Cross

Bryan Jr., William E. Major, U.S. Air Force 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 19th Fighter Bomb Group, 5th Air Force Date of Action:February 1, 1951 to February 21, 1951

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