Dan Zoernig "Fifteen" lithograph of James Kasler

Collection — Box: Small Collections Oversize Materials 2000-2005, oversize: folder

Identifier: 2005-12-27-A

Contents of the Collection

The collection is a single color lithograph of a digital illustration titled "Fifteen" and created by artist Dan Zoernig. It depicts Lieutenant James Kasler as the pilot of in-flight North American F-86 Sabre "Martha Lee" next to another aircraft. The lithograph is undated, but was possibly created circa 1990s, as an homage to Kasler becoming the 15th jet ace of the U.S. Air Force. The print is autographed by "Col. James H. Kasler" and signed by the artist.

Beneath the title, "Fifteen" is a printed caption that reads: "May 15, 1952, Lt. James Kasler of the 33th Fighter Interceptor Sqdn., Fourth Fighter Interceptor Wing, became the 15th jet Ace of the U.S. Air Force by shooting down a pair of MiG 155 over Antung Airbase, north of the Yalu River. Sliding in behind his first kill, Kasler opened fire from 1200 yards and ruptured the MiG's mail fuel tank just behind the pilot. He went on to claim one more kill before the war ended bringing his total to six confirmed vistories. Kasler served as a B-29 gunner in World War II, a fighter pilot in Korea, and an F-105 driver in Vietnam, where he was shot down on his 91st mission, spending several years in the Hanoi Hilton. For his service and unparallelled demonstrations of valor, Colonel Kasler earned three Air Force Crosses, the second highest award the United States Air Force can bestow. Col. Kasler is the only pilot to hold this honor."

Dates

Creation: circa 1990s

Creator

Zoernig, Dan (Artist, Person)
Kasler, James H. (Depositor, Person)

Language of Materials

All materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Biographical Note: James H. Kasler

James Helms Kasler was born May 2, 1926 in South Bend, Indiana. After enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve on November 24, 1943, he went on active duty with the U.S. Army Air Forces as a pilot on May 16, 1944. He earned his bachelor's degree in June 1963 from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Kasler was a combat veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

In Korea, he flew a total of 101 combat missions in an F-86E Sabre with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing and scored 6 confirmed air-to-air victories and two more damaged against MiG-15s, becoming among the first jet aces of the Korean War. During the Vietnam War Kasler served as an F-105 pilot with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron of 335th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. He flew a combined 198 combat missions and was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from August 1966 until March 1973, surviving over 2,000 days in captivity before he was released during Operation Homecoming. Kasler retired from the U.S. Air Force on May 1, 1975 at the rank of Colonel.

Outside of the military, Kasler was married to his wife, Martha (Rankin) for 65 years. The couple had three children. After Kasler left the military, he and his family lived in Momence, Illinois. Kasler had interests in banking and real estate, served on a number of boards and received a variety of civic and service awards. Kasler died April 24, 2014 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Source:

Biography derived from Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Kasler).