Victory
37 (10 Fw190,11 Bf109, 7 Bf110, 2 Me210, 6.5 MIG15)
Biography
Born June 28, 1919 in Oil City, Pennsylvania, this son of Polish emigrants followed his higher studies at the University of Notre-Dame, which he very quickly cut short to engage in aviation in July 1940. He received his patent in March 1941 and was at Wheeler Field, near of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese launched their attack on December 7, 1941.
Gabreski returned to the United States in October 1942 and was transferred to the 315th Squadron (Polish) in England.
In February 1943, Gabreski joined the 56 th Fighter Group, in Horsham St Faith, a group that is part of the future 8th Air Force. He takes charge of the destinies of the 61st Squadron and accumulates successes:he obtains 28 confirmed ones and becomes the No. 1 ace of the entire 8th Air Force.
On July 20, 1944, strafing a German airfield at the head of its formation, it descends a little too low and its propeller hits a mound of earth. He should lie on his stomach. He escapes before the arrival of a patrol, but without food or water, cannot go very far. Five days later German peasants handed him over to the local authorities. Brought for a first interrogation in front of an officer of the Luftwaffe, this one welcomes him in these terms:" Hello, Gabby! We waited for you for a long time! "
After the war, he became a test pilot at Wright Patterson ( Ohio). He was then promoted to the rank of colonel. In September 1946, he returned to civilian life, but seven months later, he returned to the U.S. Air Force and took command of the 55th Fighter Squadron.
On June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out. Gabby arrives in this theater of operations with the 4th Fighter Interception Wing in November. He rem. brought his first victory on July 8, 1951. On November 30, he was appointed commander of the 51st Fighter Interception Wing equipped with F-86Es. On April 1952, by shooting down a MiG 15, he became the 8th American ace in the Korean War.
The exact number of wins won by Francis S. Gabreski is controversial, with some sources citing 37 1/2 wins, others 34 1/2. Gabresky is currently the greatest surviving American ace.