First Air Commando Alison dies

Retired Maj. Gen. John Alison, deputy commander for the 1st Air Commando Group, died early Monday morning, June 6.

He was 98-years old and is survived by his wife Penny and son David.

In 1943, Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces, hand-picked then-lt. Col. Alison as the co-commander of the 1 ACG. However, he and long-time friend Col. Philip Cochran, who was also selected as co-commander, decided Cochran should be the commander and Alison the deputy.  In that assignment, the team set the foundation for what would 50 years later become Air Force Special Operations Command. 

Alison continued to mentor AFSOC’s Air Commandos well beyond his time in service.  Even at age 95 he spoke to airmen at the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School here and continued to make appearances at significant Air Force and AFSOC events.

For more on this story, see the June 23 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.