Orlando “Ole” Cartford Asper was born in Kikungshan, Henan Province, China on 13 June 1917, to Lutheran Missionary parents. Returning to the United States, he attended Pacific Lutheran College, in Parkland, Washington.



Orlando enlisted on 26-January-1942 at Portland Airbase in Oregon. He joined the Army Air Corps Cadet Program at Army Air Forces Advance Flying School, Stockton Field, California on 26 January 1942, qualifying as a pilot in November 1942. From May 1943, he served as a co-pilot, flying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of 96th Bomb Group, 413th Bomb Squadron, from Snetterton Heath, England. He completed 31 missions with the 96th.



After completing his tour, in October 1943, he returned to the U.S.A. as a Pilot Instructor, before returning to Europe as a 1st Lieutenant, piloting twin engine aircraft passenger flights for European Air Transport Service. He also served as Administrative Officer for 8 months in 1946-47, duties including meeting and greeting dignitaries at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.



Appointed a Captain in the U.S.A.F. Reserve on 1 April 1948, he re-joined U.S.A.F. 7th Division Strategic Air Command as an Admin Officer in January 1951 and retired on 30 September 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel.



In civilian life, ‘Ole’ taught biology and science in York High School, Nebraska, and also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. He later worked as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle, where he worked on numerous projects, including hovercraft and hydrofoils; he also worked as a nuclear waste engineer for Westinghouse at Hanford Nuclear Plant in Richland, WA. He died on 3 April 1986, in Seattle, Washington.