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MAIN INDEX > ACES > G > BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski
Last Wartime rank:
Lt. Col., WWII
Colonel, Korea
Unit(s):
Lt. Col., Deputy C.O.
56th Ftr. Gp./8th USAAF
Colonel, C.O.
51st Fighter Interceptor Wing
Theatre(s): ETO/Korea
Born:
Jan. 28, 1919, Oil City, Pennsylvania
Passed:
January 31, 2002, Long Island, NY.
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Victories:
WWII:
28 Air, 2.5 Ground
153 Sorties
Korea:
6.5 Air in ? Sorties
Decoration:
Distingushed Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Air Medal
French Legion d'Honeur
French Croix de Guerre
Polish Croix des Vaillants
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Assigned Combat Aircraft:
P-47C-2-RE, HV*A
P-47D-1-RE, HV*A, SN 42-7871
P-47D-11-RE, HV*A, SN 42-75510
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P-47D-22-RE, HV*A, SN 42-25864
P-47D-25-RE, HV*A, SN 42-26418
F-86E-10-NA, SN 51-2740, "GABBY"
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SERVICE:
Enlisted USAAC, July 1940. Commissioned 2/Lt. to Air Reserves May 1941. Flew sorties with 45th FS against the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. Assigned as Flight Leader with 56th FG, October 1942. Fluent in the Polish language, upon arrival to U.K. Jan. 1943 was attached to 315 (Polish) Squadron, RAF and flew sorties in the Spitfire. Returned to 56th FG and later assumed command of the 61st FS, June 1943.
Became Group Deputy Flying Exec. and Operations Officer, Jan. 1944 - Crash landed during strafing sortie on July 20, 1944, hid out for 5 days but was captured and subsequently imprisoned in Stalag Luft 1. Became a jet ace as C.O. of 51st FIW in Korea. C.O. 18th FW, 1960-1962. Retired as Fighter Command Colonel from USAF in 1967. Later Presidential Assistant for Grumman Aerospace Corp.
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