Leslie J. Westberg (June 23 1920 – January 4 1997) was a United States Air Force officer who attained the rank of brigadier general and served as the commander of Headquarters Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, while also holding the position of National Commander of CAP, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.
Early life and education
Westberg was born in Menasha, Wisconsin, and graduated from Menasha High School in 1938. He later attended the University of Nebraska Omaha (formerly the University of Omaha).
Military career
World II – Enlisting in September 1942 with the U.S. Army Air Corps, Westberg entered the civilian pilot training program and earned his commission and pilot wings in November 1943. After bomber training, he served with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy from June 1944 to April 1945, flying 35 combat missions in B‑24 Liberators.
Korean War – Between 1950 and 1951 he flew 27 combat missions in B‑29 Superfortresses with United Nations forces in Korea.
Cold‑War service – Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Westberg held a series of command and staff positions, including base commander of Davis‑Monthan AFB (Arizona), deputy chief of the Command Control Division at Strategic Air Command headquarters (Nebraska), and senior roles on the Joint Chiefs of Staff staff in Washington, D.C. He also commanded units in Europe, flying F‑100 and F‑105 fighter aircraft, and later served as commander of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where he qualified as an RF‑4C Phantom pilot.
Vietnam War – In July 1968 Westberg was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam, commanding the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Tan Son Nhut Airfield and later serving as chief of staff of Seventh Air Force. He accumulated approximately 600 flight hours and 240 combat missions in the RF‑4C reconnaissance aircraft.
Civil Air Patrol – In November 1972 Westberg became commander of Headquarters Civil Air Patrol and National Commander of the organization, a role he held while continuing to serve as a brigadier general. He was promoted to brigadier general on 1 September 1969, with a date of rank of 27 May 1969.
Awards and decorations
Westberg’s decorations included the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak‑leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak‑leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with sixteen oak‑leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Later life and death
After retiring from active duty, Westberg remained associated with the Civil Air Patrol. He died on 4 January 1997.
Sources: United States Air Force biography (AF.mil); public memorial records.