During Jan’s “USAF career, he was honored with many decorations, medals and campaign ribbons for his meritorious service. Some of the honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Vietnam Service Medal. He was also a graduate of Fighter Weapons School, Squadron Officer School and Air War College. He retired from the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base in January of 1980.
After Jan retired from the USAF, he continued with his enthusiasm for aviation by training United States Navy aviation cadets in Pensacola, FL. He then worked in the Airline Industry flying as a Captain with Royale Airlines and Eastern Airlines. He flew as the Chief Corporate Pilot for several companies including First Plus Financial Corporation, Men’s Wearhouse and Quality Imports of Ft Walton Beach. His love of flying was a lifelong passion and his friends and family will especially be reminded of him when they hear the roar of a jet aircraft.” (1)
Source: (1) Tribute for LtCol Janeral Holley, Jr.
Janeral L. Holley, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on May 30, 2016.
Lt. Col. Janeral “Jan” Lafayette Holley, Jr., United States Air Force (Retired) of Shalimar, Florida, departed on his final flight on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016 at age 84.
He was born in Parrott, Georgia on August 6, 1931 to Janeral “Fate” Lafayette Holley, Sr. and Eva Parker Holley and was preceded in death by his parents along with brother, James Holley, sisters, Margaret Ross and Flotsie Lee Burlinson and daughter, Jeanne Gunter. Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Helen Holley, his daughter, Janet Holley, brother, Merolan Holley, son-in-law, Ricky Gunter, grandson, Chase Gunter and his wife, Spring Gunter.
As a young man working on the family farm, Jan was intrigued by the airplanes that flew over from a nearby training base and dreamed of one day flying them. He joined the USAF in July of 1951 and served for three years in Electronic Avionics before being assigned to the Air Force Cadet Pilot Training Program.
During his 29 years of service, he earned the rating of Command Pilot and served his country with honor and distinction while mastering many different types of aircraft including the F-86, F-100, F-5 and F-4. His achievements as a pilot spanned multiple assignments across the US, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Southeast Asia among others. Of particular importance to him were the multiple tours of duty he served in the F-5 aircraft delivering it to and training pilots from Allied Nations.
During his USAF career, he was honored with many decorations, medals and campaign ribbons for his meritorious service. Some of the honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Vietnam Service Medal. He was also a graduate of Fighter Weapons School, Squadron Officer School and Air War College. He retired from the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base in January of 1980.
After Jan retired from the USAF, he continued with his enthusiasm for aviation by training United States Navy aviation cadets in Pensacola, FL. He then worked in the Airline Industry flying as a Captain with Royale Airlines and Eastern Airlines. He flew as the Chief Corporate Pilot for several companies including First Plus Financial Corporation, Men’s Wearhouse and Quality Imports of Ft Walton Beach. His love of flying was a lifelong passion and his friends and family will especially be reminded of him when they hear the roar of a jet aircraft.
Military Honors and Interment will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Shalimar United Methodist Church, 1 Old Ferry Road, Shalimar, FL 32579 at https://www.shelbygiving.com/g3/nu/
Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com
