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 12^th Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club, Texas. Max Jesperson passed away on November 5, 2014 and is buried at Miramar National Cemetery.

Link to the collection's Descriptive Finding Guide.