Bruce “Big Fella” MacLennan joined The Air Force through ROTC in April 1959, and began a 30-year career, fulfilling his childhood ambition of flying high-performance fighter aircraft, culminating in command of USAFE’s first F-5 Fighter Aggressor Squadron. He served three tours in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, including two tours in The F-4 Phantom, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
Bruce flew the F-100 with the 153rd Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Cannon AFB, in Operation Checkmate during the Berlin Buildup, and out of Incirlik. He also flew the Hun with the 416th TFS out of Misawa AB, Japan.
Colonel MacLennan retired from The Weapons and Plans Division at The Pentagon in 1989.
Bruce was a Charter Member of the Super Sabre Society, a Life Member of the Red River Valley Association, a Life Member of the Order of Daedalians, Life Member of the Air Force Association, Life Member of Military Officers of America Assoc., and belonged to the Command Bar Stoolers, the Theta Chi Fraternity and was a Life Member of the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Headhunters”.
Source: BRUCE MacLENNAN Obituary (1935 – 2019) – Washington, DC – The Washington Post (legacy.com)
Bruce “Big Fella” MacLennan, (Col USAF, Ret) “Headed West” on September 10, 2019.
Colonel (USAF, retired) Bruce “Big Fella” MacLennan, 84, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on September 10, 2019, after battling cancer for four years. Bruce, born in Quincy, MA to Alger and Virginia MacLennan in 1935, graduated from Braintree (MA) High School, Thayer Academy, and The University of New Hampshire.
He joined The Air Force through ROTC in April 1959, and began a 30-year career, fulfilling his childhood ambition of flying high-performance fighter aircraft, culminating in command of USAFE’s first F-5 Fighter Aggressor Squadron. He served three tours in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, including two tours in The F-4 Phantom, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
Bruce flew the F-100 with the 153rd Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Cannon AFB, in Operation Checkmate during the Berlin Buildup, and out of Incirlik. He also flew the Hun with the 416th TFS out of Misawa AB, Japan.
Colonel MacLennan retired from The Weapons and Plans Division at The Pentagon in 1989.
Bruce was a Charter Member of the Super Sabre Society, a Life Member of the Red River Valley Association, a Life Member of the Order of Daedalians, Life Member of the Air Force Association, Life Member of Military Officers of America Assoc., and belonged to the Command Bar Stoolers, the Theta Chi Fraternity and was a Life Member of the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Headhunters”.
Bruce’s wife of 53 years, Eileen Crawley MacLennan, 83, passed away less than a month earlier on August 17, 2019. He was also predeceased by a brother, Everett. Bruce is survived by his brother, John, and five nephews, and nieces.
Bruce and his wife Eileen were buried in Arlington National Cemetery on December 2, 2020.
Donations in memory of Bruce may be directed to the Air Force Aid Society, 1550 Crystal Drive, Suite 809, Arlington, VA 22202; afas.org. In memory of Eileen, donations may be made to Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304; alexandriaanimals.org.
Source:BRUCE MacLENNAN Obituary (1935 – 2019) – Washington, DC – The Washington Post (legacy.com)
