William Elmer Bryan Jr. (October 5, 1921 - April 6, 2008) was a United States Air Force Major General and a flying ace.

He flew a total of 114 missions, and was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and fifteen Air Medals during the war.

[1] During the Korean War, Bryan flew missions in the F-51 Mustang with the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing in South Korea from August 1950 to April 1951.

On his return to the United States, he attended the National War College, Washington, D.C. After graduation in July 1963, he was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, as commandant of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School and later as vice commander of the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing.

According to his recollections, he flew a single mission during the war from a USAF air base in Thailand to North Vietnam.

Displaying superb leadership, dauntless courage, and exceptional aeronautical skill, Major Bryan led his squadron of F-51 fighter aircraft on attacks against enemy transportation facilities and materiel.

With total disregard for his personal safety, and ignoring the perils of enemy anti-aircraft, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire, Major Bryan repeatedly flew over hazardous mountain terrain at low speed and minimum altitude in search of camouflaged enemy vehicles and supplies.

Before destroying those targets, he led his flight in low level passes over the areas pointing out the camouflage techniques, and completely disregarded the damage frequently inflicted upon his own aircraft by enemy fire.

As a direct result of this valuable instruction in camouflage detection, Major Bryan's squadron was able to locate 466 enemy vehicles of which 389 were totally destroyed and the remainder severely damaged.