Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004
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Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004 (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Alison. Alsion was born in Florida in 1912 and graduated from the University of Florida. Soon after graduation he was accepted into the Army Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas. After competing primary flight training he moved to Kelly Field, Texas for advanced training and was selected to fly fighters. Upon receiving his wings in 1937 he was ordered to report to Langley Field, Virginia where he was assigned to the 8th Pursuit Group flying the PB2A pursuit plane. In 1940 the group moved to Mitchell, Field, New York and the 57th Pursuit Group was formed. Alison was named squadron commander of the 66th Pursuit Squadron. He was directed to demonstrate the Curtis P-40 fighter to General Claire Chennault and a group of Chinese generals. He describes his flight demonstration and the obvious satisfaction of shown by all concerned. In April 1941, he went to England with the Hubert Zemke to assist the Royal Air Force in the integration of the P-40 into the RAF. While there, he was selected to accompany American Ambassador Harry Hopkins as a military attaché of the US Embassy in Moscow. He recalls that P-40 aircraft were received, assembled and delivered to the Russians. He was then sent to Iran and Iraq, where A-25 and A-20 aircraft were delivered to the Russians. Alison received orders from General Hap Arnold to report to China where he flew with the American Volunteer Group (AVG). He was assigned deputy to the 75th Fighter Squadron commander (David Lee Tex Hill). Upon the departure of Tex Hill, Knowles became the squadron commander. Knowles was named deputy squadron commander of the 23rd Fighter Group before he was sent back to the United States in 1943. [The interview was concluded due to time constraints]
Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004 - ark:/67531/metapth1608764
Oral History Interview with John Alison, March 7, 2004, text, March 7, 2004; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1604958/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.