Max Jesperson served in the Air Force for over 26 years and took part in World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Max Oscar Jesperson was born in Tucson, Arizona, on March 3, 1922, to Oscar Fernando Jesperson and Martha Abegg Jesperson. He graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1940 and enlisted in the Air Force Reserve Corps on September 12, 1942. He was accepted as an Aviation Cadet at Santa Ana Army Air Base in California, where he completed his primary training and was transferred to AAF Pilot School at Minter Field, in Bakersfield, California on August 25, 1943. He completed his advanced training at Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona and was assigned to active pilot duty as a 2nd Lieutenant on January 7, 1944. He reported to Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas for Basic Instructors Course, and upon completion, had received training in the B-17 and A-6 at Hobbs Army Air Field in New Mexico. On April 16, 1945, he was assigned back to Minter Field as a Flight Instructor and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on August 3, 1945. In August 1946, he was sent to Lechfeld Army Air Base, Germany, and the 305th Bomb Group, where he participated in the “Casey Jones Project,” which was the mapping of Germany by air in a B-17. He separated from the service and went into the Reserves, joining the Arizona Air National Guard (Copperheads). He was recalled back to active duty in February, 1951, and served as a combat crew instructor at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and then at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Jesperson was promoted to Captain and flew the F-86 with the 12th Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, then went on to Korea. After Korea, he was assigned to George Air Force Base, California, where he flew the F-100. He flew the F-104 for six years, two years at squadron level, two years at headquarters level, and two years with the German Air Force, assigned to the 33rd Fighter Bomb Wing, German Luftwaffenamt at Buchel Air Base. He was promoted to Lt. Col. on April 17, 1965.

2 Cubic Feet Description: The collection is housed in four boxes (10”x12.5”x15.5”). Content notes: Complete records of Jesperson’s military education and career, beginning with his application in 1942 to his final tour of duty at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

The collection is open to research by appointment, some restrictions may apply.