Founding Air Commando dies at 98 (SLIDESHOW, VIDEO)

An Air Force legend and founding air commando died Monday morning in Washington, D.C.

Retired Gen. John Alison, former deputy commander for the 1st Air Commando Group (1ACG) and World War II Flying Tiger, was 98 years old.

In 1943, Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces, hand-picked then-Lt. Col. Alison and Col. Philip Cochran as co-commanders of the 1 ACG, according to a press release issued by Hurlburt Field.

SLIDESHOW: The Flying Tigers took up the fight against the Japanese in China and Burma. »

The longtime friends had ideas of their own. Cochran and Alison decided Cochran should be commander and Alison deputy commander.

“In that assignment, the team set the foundation for what would 50 years later become Air Force Special Operations Command,” the press release states.

Before helping to establish the 1 ACG, Alison was a decorated fighter pilot. He went on to become an ace with six confirmed aerial victories during World War II.

Fort Walton Beach resident Wes Fields visited Alison last month. Despite a fall and hospitalization on Easter, Alison was alert and doing well.

Fields said Alison’s passing was like losing a part of the air commando legacy.

“It’s just a reminder of the Air Force heritage that we’re losing every day,” he said.

Alison continued to mentor AFSOC’s air commandos well beyond his time in service.

“General Alison was a gentleman first, and he forged the way for air commandos, past and present,” said Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, AFSOC commander. “He left a lasting mark on our command and will be greatly missed.”

His dedication to the Air Force and Special Operations earned him several accolades. In 1994, he was inducted to the air commando Hall of Fame, and he was selected to speak for the Air Command and Staff College’s “Gathering of Eagles” in 1985, 2004 and 2009.

In 2005, he was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and most recently was the first inductee into the U.S. Special Operations Command, Commando Hall of Honor in October 2010, the Hurlburt release states.

Alison’s photographs hang on the walls of the Armament Museum. He visited the museum two years ago when he was in town for an air commando reunion. Alison listed the names of nearly every person in the group photos, pausing to share a story or two.

He referred to his time as an air commando as a “great adventure.”

Before becoming an air commando, Alison was the commander of the 14th Air Force/23rd Fighter Group “Flying Tiger” squadron. The volunteer group defended the Burma Road in China.

“I got shot down twice and that was very exciting. It gets more exciting each time,” he said during his museum visit.

Alison is survived by his wife, Kathleen “Penni” Alison; two sons, David and John Alison III; as well as three grandchildren.