In late 1940, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek sent a delegation to the United States to acquire airplanes for the Chinese air force. Their American adviser, Claire L. Chennault, set up a demonstration of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk at Boiling Field in Washington.In the five-minute show, the P-40 whipped through turns and maneuvers that even Curtiss did not know it could perform. Mightily impressed, one of the Chinese officials said, "We need 100 of these.""No," Chennault replied, "you need 100 of these," pointing to the pilot he had chosen to conduct the demonstration, Lt. John R. Alison, 28.Alison was as an Airman of exceptional ability. He once landed a P-40 after the entire rudder had been shot away. He would eventually get to China as a member of Chennault's Flying Tigers, but not yet. The War Department had more pressing work for him.In the spring of 1941, he went to London on behalf of the Lend Lease program to help the British get the most out of the P-40s they had obtained from the United States. Later that year, he transferred to Moscow in a similar role to assist the Russians in the assembly, maintenance, and operation of their P-40s.The attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States directly into the war. In July 1942, Alison was assigned to the Flying Tigers in China as deputy commander of one of Chennault's top squadrons.
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机译：1940年末，Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek向美国发出了代表团，以获得中国空军的飞机。他们的美国顾问，Claire L. Chennault，在华盛顿的沸腾领域建立了柯蒂斯P-40 Warhawk的示范。在五分钟的展示中，P-40通过转弯和演习甚至柯蒂斯不知道它可以履行。中文官员留下了深刻的印象，“我们需要100个。”“不，”金恩答复，“你需要100个，”指向他选择进行示范的飞行员，约翰罗德艾莉森，28.Alison是一个特殊能力的飞行员。在整个舵被射门后，他曾经降落了一个p-40。他最终会成为Chennault的飞行老虎的成员，但还没有。战争部门对他有更多的压力。在1941年春天，他代表贷款租赁计划前往伦敦，以帮助英国从美国获得的P-40最大。那一年晚些时候，他在莫斯科转移到类似的角色，以协助俄罗斯人在汇编，维护和运作的P-40。珍珠港的袭击将美国直接纳入战争。 1942年7月，艾莉森被分配到中国的飞行老虎，作为金跳的顶级中队之一的副指挥官。
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