The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Max Jespersen Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10170
AR
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
7/2016
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Lt. Col. Max O. Jesperson Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10170
Physical Description:
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.
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: 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.
Biographical / Historical
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.
After going through F-4 Phantom training at George Air Force Base, he was assigned to the 389th TFS, 366th TFW at DaNang Air
Base, Vietnam, where he flew the F-4, C-47, and OV-2. This included 110 combat hours, including missions to Khe Sahn in support
of the US Marines. His final tour of duty was with the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque,
New Mexico, where he was responsible for air support for underground nuclear testing at the Nevada test site and the Aleutian
Chain.
During his 26.5 years of active duty, Jesperson served in three wars and received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service medal,
Air medal, Commendation medal, AF Outstanding Unit award, Combat Ready medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Air Campaign medal,
EAME Campaign medal, WWII Victory medal, Army Occupation medal, National Defense medal with silver star, Korean Service medal,
Vietnam Service medal, AF Longevity with silver cluster, AF Reserve, Small Arms Expert, United Nations Service medal, RVN
Commendation medal, and RVN Air Service medal.
He was married to Virginia “Ginny” Glendora Jesperson (Feb. 14, 1923 – Oct. 20, 2015) and had three children. Mrs. Jesperson
served as President of the Hq 12th Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club, Texas. Max Jesperson passed away on November 5, 2014 and
is buried at Miramar National Cemetery.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research by appointment, some restrictions may apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Scope and Contents
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.
Related Materials
North American F-100 Super Sabre, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Aircraft Files.
Vietnam War Subject Files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
McDonnell Douglas aircraft
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
North American F-100 Super Sabre
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
389th Tactical Fighter Squadron
North American F-86 Sabre
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Korean War 1950-1953
305th Bomb Group
Luke Field
Jesperson, Max
Series I: Personal Ephemera
Folder 1 – Personal/Recreational
Physical Description: 1. Handwritten letter, Feb. 28, 1954, Las Vegas, NV
2. Handwritten driving directions, Tucson, AZ
3. Handwritten directions to La Cholla AirPark, Tucson, AZ
4. “Reserved Capt. Jesperson” seat marker
5. Two Arizona National Guard, The Copperheads, decals
6. USNS General E.C. Patrick Captain’s Dinner menu and program
7. Max Jesperson 6237 composition book
8. Three-page typewritten document on classical music/musicians
9. “La Bohème” booklet
10. “Lessons That Live as told by A.A.F. Pilots,” booklet
11. Death Valley National Monument Guide
12. Colorado map
13. Two Edwards AFB housing maps
14. Two Balboa Park maps, 1979
15. “Points of Interest, Escondido and vicinity” map
16. “Enjoy Sightseeing Tours in Catalina,” pamphlet, 1953-54
17. “San Diego, golfland, U.S.A.” brochure
18. “Forest E. Olson Family Outings, San Diego County Edition,” 1977
19. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. & E. B. White, 1959
20. USC Flying Safety Officer Course certificate, March 1964
21. “Sandpipings, Back to School” newsletter, September 1959
22. Kirtland AFB Welcome Guide, 1969
23. U.S. News & World Report magazine, September 26, 1958
24. Program: “100 Mile AAA Auto Race,” November 4, 1951
25. Program: “Call Me Mister” 1946 Broadway Musical
Series II – Military Records
Folder 2 – Military Records
Physical Description: 1. Jesperson “Diversified Flying Time Record,” 1943 2. Aircraft Proficiency Certificate, December 12, 1956 3. Jesperson DD214
discharge record 4. Individual Flight Records, 1944-45 5. First Lieutenant appointment to National Guard of Arizona, May 1,
1950 6. Citation to Accompany the Award of the Air Force Commendation Medal to Max O. Jesperson, 1960s 7. Recommendation for
Decoration, March 7, 1972 8. Medical Records for disqualification for flying duty, 1972-73 9. Recurrency Statement, Nov. 17,
1964 10. Change or Designation of Beneficiary, 1954
Folder 3 – Flight checklists and briefing guides
Folder 4 – Protocol Guide – MAAG Germany, 1958
Folder 5 – “Some Observations on Leadership” by Lt. Gen. Ira C. Baker, March 17, 1961
Folder 6 – “No Guts; No Glory” Flight Tactics
Folder 7 – “How to shoot down an F-100” by Capt. G. Elsea
Folder 8 – Fighter and Fighter/Bomber Tactical Air Operations manual, July 1953
Folder 9 – Instructors Manual for Pressure Suit Training, Oct. 1958
Folder 10 – In-flight refueling procedures, Dec. 1958
Folder 11 – OAO – Orbiting Astronomical Observatory “Built by Grumman for NASA” n.d.
Folder 12 – Recognition and Classification of Structural Failures, USC, Aerospace Safety Division
Folder 13 – USAF Air University, Gunter AFB, AL – graded composition, Nov. 1961
Folder 14 – Air War College Class of 1967 roster
Folder 15 – Nuclear Weapons Orientation and Advanced Course, Sandia Base, NM, Dec. 1969
Folder 16 – Nevada Test Site, late 1960/early 1970s
Physical Description: 1. Booklet: “The Story of the Nevada Test Site,” U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Sept. 1963 2. Two booklets” NTS Nevada Test
Site… america’s outdoor nuclear explosives laboratory,” June 1970 3. “NTS News,” Nov. 1972 4. “NTS News,” August 1972
Folder 17 – Officer Evaluations and Reviews made by Jesperson, 1970s
Folder 18 – “Briefing Material”- Air Support for Nuclear Testing
Folder 19 – “Lt. Col. M. O. Jesperson” notebook
Folder 25 – “Flying Time/UH-1 Missions – Det 1”
Folder 29 – “Special Guidance Documents, Info”
Folder 30 – “Far East” Info #1
Folder 31 – “Far East” Info #2
Folder 32 – “Far East” Info #3
Series II – Military Records (cont)
Folder 1 – Individual Flight Records 1943 – 1969
Folder 2 – Radio School Study Sheets, 1940s
Folder 3 – Pilot Training questionnaires, exams, study sheets, 1940s
Folder 4 – Pilot Questionnaire (F-100C/F-100D)
Folder 6 – Misc. U.S. Air Bases
Folder 7 – Maps #1 - California
Folder 8 – Maps #2 – U.S.
Folder 9 – Maps #3 – Asia
Folder 10 – Personal Newspaper Clippings
Folder 11 – USAT General John Pope newsletters, December 1946
Folder 12 – Misc. Newsletters, 1946 – 1971
Folder 13 – Newspaper – Stars & Stripes – 1946 – 1969
Series II – Military Records
1. Four three-ring binders labeled “1942 to 1945,” “1946 to 1951,” “1956 to 1965,” and “1966 to 1973” containing Jesperson’s
military records such as applications, account statements, status reports, orders, medical records, certificates, memos, etc.
2. One three-ring binder titled “OER’s” containing evaluations of officers done by Jesperson as Directorate of Nuclear Field
Operations at Kirtland AFB, 1969-71.
3. One untitled three-ring binder containing pilot questionnaires; 1977 Air Force Retirement Guide; 1966 Air Force Guide for
Retired Personnel; several “talking papers” and book analysis including “Soviet Strategy at the Crossroads” by Thomas Wolfe,
“National Security Policy,” “Taiwan and the Philippines,” “Causes of War” by L.L. Bernard, “The New Concert of Nations” by
Christopher Montagu Woodhouse, “The Winds of Freedom,” “The Influence of Military Strategy on National Security Policy,” and
“Tactical Air Line of Communications.”
4. One untitled three-ring binder containing aircraft arrival and clearance reports, 1945 – 1960.
Series V: Books and Manuals
1. One three-ring binder titled “F-15” contains “USAF Series F-15A/B Flight Manual, 15 November 1980.”
2. One three-ring binder titled “F-100” contains “USAF Series F-100D Flight Manual, 30 September 1960.”
3. One untitled three-ring binder contains class notes, study sheets, course descriptions, officer directory (National Guard
of Arizona, October 1950), misc.
4. One three-ring binder titled “Book II” contains “Post Regulations, February 1, 1942.”
5. One three-ring binder titled “Aerospace Safety Course” contains class notes, 1964.
6. One three-ring binder titled “Aerospace Safety Division, United States Air Force Flying Safety Officer Course.”
7. Eight course study books: Aero-Space Science Series, Fundamentals of Aircraft and Missile Structures, Aviation Psychology,
and The Mathematics and Physics of Aircraft and Missile Engineering. Air War College: Excerpts from ICAF Anthology of McNamara-Hitch-Enthoven,
Military Strategy for Limited War, Supplement, Reading Selections, Biographical Sketches of Forum Members, Twentieth Anniversary
1946-1966.
