Founding Air Commando dies at 98

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.

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....