Yue was born 1914 in Lushan County, Sichuan as Yue Yizhong (). Both academically as well as athletically gifted, he competed for the Sichuan Province track team as a sprinter in the National Games while he was in high school. After graduation, Yue wanted to study medicine at the Cheeloo University in Jinan, but for unknown reasons had no academic certificate from his high school. As result, he borrowed the name of his elder brother, "Yue Yiqin", to enroll at the university and from then on lived under that name. Yue dropped his medical studies when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, and instead joined the Central Aviation Academy. After graduation, Yue first served with the 8th PS (Pursuit Squadron), then became an instructor at the Academy, and finally joined 22nd PS/4th PG (Pursuit Group) as flight leader and Lieutenant.