Backported (actually more-or-less simultaneously applied) from trunk:
gas/ChangeLog:
* NEWS: Mention new feature.
* config/obj-coff.c (obj_coff_section): Accept digits and use
to override default section alignment power if specified.
* doc/as.texinfo (.section directive): Update documentation.
gas/testsuite/ChangeLog:
* gas/pe/section-align-1.s: New test source file.
* gas/pe/section-align-1.d: Likewise control script.
* gas/pe/section-align-2.s: Likewise ...
* gas/pe/section-align-2.d: ... and likewise.
* gas/pe/pe.exp: Invoke new testcases.