John Richardson Alison (November 21, 1912 – June 6, 2011) was a highly decorated American combat ace of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and is often cited as the father of Air Force Special Operations.

Early years

Born in Micanopy, Florida, near Gainesville in 1912, Alison graduated from the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

School of Engineering and joined the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

in 1936. He earned his wings and was commissioned at Kelly Field in 1937. Prior to America's entry into

, he served as Assistant Military Attache in England and helped British pilots transition into the P-40. In October 1941, Alison traveled to

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to administer the sensitive U.S.-Soviet P-40

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program. He trained Soviet pilots in the P-40, A-20, and B-25 Mitchell aircraft. In his autobiography, Jimmy Doolittle wrote:

Combat

After ten months and repeated requests for reassignment to combat, Alison got his wish. In June 1942, he reported to the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) to serve as Deputy Squadron Commander under

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David Lee "Tex" Hill in the 75th Fighter Squadron, part of

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Robert Lee Scott Jr.'s 23rd Fighter Group, the

USAAF The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

successor of the AVG's famed

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in the China-Burma-India Theater. Alison was called into theater by the previous commander of the AVG, Brigadier General Claire Lee Chennault, who was serving as commander of the Fourteenth Air Force. On July 30, 1942, Alison was credited with the first night kills in the theater. For his experimental night interception, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Alison again demonstrated his aggressiveness in early 1943, when he took off during an attack on his own airfield, engaged three

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s, and scored one probable kill. He then vectored arriving reinforcements to the battle, after which he made a stern attack on another enemy fighter at close range, shooting it down. His gallantry and fighting spirit earned him the Silver Star. Ending his tour as commander of the 75th Fighter Squadron, Alison left as an ace with seven confirmed victories and several probable kills. His former commanding officer, David Lee "Tex" Hill, had high praise for Alison:

Air Commando

Alison later commanded the 3rd Air Commando group in the Pacific serving in the Philippines and Okinawa.

Later years

After the war, he served as an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, President of the Air Force Association, and as a major general in the

Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...

. He retired as vice president of the

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in 1984 and is a 1994 inductee into the Air Commando Hall of Fame.Air Commando Hall of Fame
retrieved January 26, 2008 In 2005, Alison was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was made an honorary member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Alison died on June 6, 2011, and was buried at

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on October 3, 2011. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz provided the eulogy at the Old Post Chapel at

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. Following the chapel service, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented the American flag to Alison's wife, Penni, at the graveside service. Alison was survived by Penni, and their two sons, John and David. Shortly before his passing, he authorized the Washington DC Chapter of the Air Commando Association to use his name and they are known as the John R. Alison Chapter of the Air Commando Association.

Awards and decorations

His awards and decorations include:

Distinguished Service Cross citation

:Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) John Richardson Alison, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, Tenth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 30 July 1942, over Hengyang, China. On that date, Major John Alison took off in a P-40 fighting plane at 1:00 a.m. to intercept an enemy formation of three heavy bombers flying at 15,000 feet over Hengyang. Without hesitation, he closed for attack upon this superior force, and although receiving fire from the hostile wing ships in engine and cockpit, he delivered fire in succession to each of the three bombers, two of which burst into flames and crashed. The other turned from the attack with smoke pouring from both engines and probably did not reach its home base. With his damaged plane failing and pursuit impossible, Major John Alison would have been justified under the circumstances, in leaving his ship by parachute, but he chose to attempt a night crash landing in order to save his vitally needed equipment. Being unable to reach the field, he landed in a nearby river, from which his plane was salvaged. In attacking this superior force at night, destroying two bombers and possibly the entire hostile formation after his ship had been damaged by enemy cross fire, and then attempting to save his stricken plane, Major John Alison displayed extraordinary heroism and outstanding skill. His unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 10th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Notes

References

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External links

* ''The All-American Airman'', Walter J. Boyne, March 2000
Harry S. Truman Library
'John R. Alison Papers'', 1945–1957
Veterans History Program
'John R. Alison Collection'', including extended video interview available online.
National Aviation Hall of Fame
" John R. Alison Enshrinee Biography {{DEFAULTSORT:Alison, John R. 1912 births 2011 deaths American World War II flying aces Aviators from Florida Burials at Arlington National Cemetery National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Silver Star United States Air Force generals United States Army Air Forces pilots University of Florida College of Engineering alumni Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Recipients of the Legion of Merit Military personnel from Florida People from Micanopy, Florida