HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Retired Maj. Gen. John Alison, deputy commander for the 1st Air Commando Group, died early Monday morning. He was 98-years old and is survived by his wife Kahtleen "Penni," sons David and John Alison III, and three grandchildren.

In 1943, Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces, hand-picked then-Lieutenant-Colonel 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.

"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. Then 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 1 ACG consisted of bombers, gliders, transports, light planes, heavy planes and helicopters. The unit contained volunteers, which was to support and sustain the British commandos, or "Chindits," by operating at primitive airfields in the China-Burma-India Theater. Alongside the "Chindits," the 1 ACG executed Operation Thursday, conducting the first nighttime airfield seizure well behind enemy lines March 5, 1943.

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

Correction: There was a misspelling of Mrs. Alison's name, which has been corrected. Also, General Alison is survived by sons David and John Alison III, along with three grandchildren.