Leslie Andersen was born on October 2, 1920, in Leader, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on March 7, 1942, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Napier Field, Alabama, on February 16, 1943. After completing P-39 Airacobra training, he deployed to North Africa in May 1943, and joined the 96th Fighter Squadron of the 82nd Fighter Group in June 1943, flying the P-38 Lightning. Lt Andersen was credited with the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, between September and December 1943. He joined the 305th Provisional Fighter Wing in December 1943, and returned to the U.S. in November 1944. After the war, Maj Andersen served in Japan from January 1946 to June 1948, and then commanded the 42nd SCU at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., from September 1948 to March 1951. He next commanded the 45th SCU at Kelly AFB, Texas, and then in North Africa, from March 1951 to April 1952. Col Andersen served on the staff of Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe in Germany from April 1952 to July 1954, and then on the staff of Headquarters Continental Air Command at Mitchel AFB, New York, from August 1954 to August 1957. He attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1957 to June 1958, and then served on the staff of the Comptroller of the Air Force at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from July 1958 to August 1963. He then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., from August 1963 to June 1964, followed by service as the Comptroller for 3rd Air Force at South Ruislip AS, England, from August 1964 to August 1968. Col Andersen's final assignment was as Comptroller with Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Material Area at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from August 1968 until his retirement from the Air Force on May 31, 1972. Leslie Andersen died on May 5, 2003, and is buried at the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma.