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Contact Info
Home Town Memphis, Tennessee
Last Address Florida
Date of Passing Nov 02, 2011
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Court 7, Section E, Column 15, Niche 2
He served in the US Navy in WWII, was a rescue helicopter pilot and a test pilot during the Cold War, flew combat rescue missions in VietNam, and also flew one of the helicopters on the Son Tay Raid Nov 21, 1970. He retired from the Air Force Aug 31, 1978.
His AF Cross citation: Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel John V. Allison (AFSN: 0-28301), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as Aircraft Commander of an HH-53 Rescue Helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, as part of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam, on 21 November 1970. On that date, Lieutenant Colonel Allison flew a helicopter loaded with Special Forces troops into an extremely hostile environment. Prior to landing, he recognized that circumstances existing in the vicinity of the objective were considerably different than expected. He correctly assessed the new conditions, and at risk of life under adverse circumstances and without direction, implemented an alternate plan. Acting on his own, Colonel Allison's decision to undertake a new plan and deliver sustained accurate fire on the major enemy threat, a guard billet played a large part in the tactical success of the operation. After all buildings were searched, Colonel Allison, without regard for his personal safety, landed and picked up and safely returned his troops through heavy surface-to-air missile activity. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Allison reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Later, 50 CH-3Es were modified for combat rescue missions with armor, defensive armament, self-sealing fuel tanks, a rescue hoist and in-flight refueling capability. They were redesignated HH-3Es and used extensively in Southeast Asia under the nickname "Jolly Green Giant."
USAF variants served in numerous air rescue squadrons and aerospace rescue and recovery squadons of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), rescue squadrons of the Air Combat Command (ACC) and other USAF major commands world-wide. The aircraft was also used by a number of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard rescue squadrons. All USAF HH-3Es, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the current HH-60G Pavehawk.
CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant HH-3F Pelican Specifications Main rotor diameter 62 ft. Fuselage Length 73 ft. 0 in. Height 18 ft. 1 in. Weight 22,050 lbs. loaded Armament Provisions for two .50-cal. machine guns Engines Two General Electric T58-GE-5 turboshaft engines of 1,500 hp. each Crew Three Cost $796,000 Maximum speed 177 mph. Cruising speed 154 mph. Range 779 miles with external fuel tanks Service Ceiling 21,000 ft.
