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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

GILBERT F. HASLER, 1st Lieutenant, was born 27 April 1930 in Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in January 1951, and after "The Battle of Lackland", was temporarily assigned to a T-6 Maintenance Squadron at Connally AFB, Texas while awaiting further assignment into an Aviation Cadet class.
He graduated from pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas in the class of 52-Charlie, followed by jet transition at Moody AFB, Georgia and fighter combat training at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
He served in the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squad at Kimpo Air Base, Korea, where he flew 101 combat missions.
Upon return he was again stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada as an F-86 combat instructor pilot, where he remained until separation 10 May 1955. One year later he joined the 196th FIS, California ANG where he flew the F-86 for one more year.
Hasler's most memorable experiences are three. While at Nellis during combat training, and with only ten hours in the F-86, he experienced an engine failure flameout. He managed to guide to Nellis and accomplished a successful dead-stick landing.
While on combat mission over North Korea, flying wing on Major James Jabara (the world's first jet ace) as a flight of two, Lieutenant Hasler sighted four MiGs far out. He called out the bandits, asked Jabara if he "had them" and the reply was "no". Hasler said "follow me" and led the flight into a position of engagement. Major Jabara shot down one MiG and they returned to K-14. It was Jabara's first kill after returning to Korea for his second tour. Hasler is the only living witness to this historic event. Jabara is now deceased. Hasler was flying Jabara's airplane.
On 1 May 1953, May Day, the anniversary of the Communist Revolution, Hasler, in a flight of four, at 42,000 feet over the Yalu River, experienced a flameout. With enemy all around on radar, he glided toward the ocean against adverse jet stream cross winds. After one unsuccessfully attempted airstart, he succeeded in starting the engine at 6,000 feet while he was being encouraged to "punch out." He took the "scenic route" home over the water and returned safely to K-14.
Hasler married Marion Goerbert, an Air Force Flight Nurse, on 10 March 1956. They have two grown children. They are retired and enjoy going to "Fly-ins" in their Cessna.