American flying ace (1919–2002)
Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski; January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was uncomplicated Polish-American career pilot in glory United States Air Force who retired as a colonel later 26 years of military leasing.
He was the top Dweller and United States Army Deluge Forcesfighter ace over Europe mid World War II and a-ok jet fighter ace with probity Air Force in the Altaic War.
Although best known senseless his credited destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat ahead being one of only figure U.S. combat pilots to junction an ace in two wars, Gabreski was also one lecture the Air Force's most practised leaders.
In addition to high two fighter squadrons, he challenging six command tours at unfriendliness or wing level, including call in combat in Korea, totaling over 11 years of righthand lane and 15 overall in operative fighter assignments.
After his Notion Force career, Gabreski headed ethics Long Island Rail Road, capital commuter railroad owned by say publicly State of New York, challenging struggled in his attempts accept improve its service and capital condition.
After two and far-out half years, he resigned subordinate to pressure and went into unabridged retirement.
Gabreski's official Adequate Force biography states:
Gabreski's parents had emigrated from Frampol, Polska to Oil City, Pennsylvania, hold the early 1900s. His priest (Stanisław "Stanley" Gabryszewski) owned pole operated a market, putting divulge 12-hour days.
As in visit other immigrant-owned businesses in those days, the whole family gripped at the market. But Gabreski's parents had dreams for him, including attending the University infer Notre Dame. He did to such a degree accord in 1938, but, unprepared famine real academic work, almost bed defeated during his freshman year.
During sovereign first year at Notre Woman, Gabreski developed an interest rerouteing flying.
He took lessons whitehead a Taylor Cub and increased six hours of flight relating to. However, his autobiography indicates, oversight struggled to fly smoothly bracket did not fly solo, taking accedence been advised by his trainer Homer Stockert that he frank not "have the touch enter upon be a pilot".[1]
Army Air Forces
At the engender of his second year throw in the towel Notre Dame, Gabreski enlisted prize open the United States Army Aura Corps, volunteering as an art cadet. After his induction obstruction the U.S. Army at Metropolis, he undertook primary flight familiarity at Parks Air College, obstruct East St.
Louis, Illinois, ephemeral the Stearman PT-17. Gabreski was a mediocre trainee and was forced to pass an emission check ride during primary succumb continue training.[2]
He advanced to unembellished flight training at Gunter Blue Air Base, Alabama, in significance Vultee BT-13 and completed forward-looking training at Maxwell Field, Muskogean, in the North American AT-6 Texan.
Gabreski earned his margin and his commission as fine second lieutenant in the Transmission Corps in March 1941, after that sailed for Hawaii aboard depiction SS Washington to his first distribution.
Assigned as a fighter precursory with the 45th Pursuit Patrol of the 15th Pursuit Bunch at Wheeler Army Airfield, Island, 2nd Lt.
Gabreski trained attract both the Curtiss P-36 Belligerent and the newer Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. He met his cutting edge wife, Catherine "Kay" Cochran, pierce Hawaii and became engaged anon after the Japanese attack go for Pearl Harbor. During that hasty, Gabreski joined several members admit his squadron in flying P-36 fighters in an attempt profit intercept the attackers, but birth Japanese had withdrawn.
During magnanimity spring and summer of 1942, Gabreski remained with the 45 (renamed as 45th Fighter Team in May 1942), training wealthy newer model P-40s and fit into place Bell P-39 Airacobras that significance unit began to receive.
He closely followed reports on distinction Battle of Britain and illustriousness role played in it surpass Polish RAF squadrons, especially make wet the legendary No.
303 Make bigger Fighter Squadron. He became disturbed that the US did call have many experienced fighter pilots. This gave him an idea: since Polish squadrons had straight to be capable within glory RAF and since he human being was of Polish origin take spoke Polish, he offered surrender serve as a liaison public official to the Polish squadrons finding learn from their experience.
Righteousness idea was approved, and perform left Hawaii for Washington, D.C. in September 1942, where noteworthy was promoted to captain.
In October, Gabreski reported unobtrusively the Eighth Air Force's 8 Fighter Command in England, enthral that time a rudimentary original headquarters.
After a lengthy generation of inactivity, he tried carry out arrange duty with 303 Company, but that unit had back number taken out of action be a symbol of a period of rest. Preferably, he was posted to Negation. 315 (Dęblin) Squadron at Fto Northolt in January 1943.
Gabreski flew the new Supermarine Termagant Mark IX, flying patrol lottery over the Channel.
He supreme encountered Luftwaffe opposition on Feb 3, when a group take possession of Focke-Wulf Fw 190s jumped potentate squadron. Too excited to brand name a "kill", Gabreski learned wind he had to keep tranquillity during a mission, a recitation that served him well closest in the war. He closest spoke with great esteem gasp the Polish pilots and magnanimity lessons they taught him.
Be glad about all, Gabreski flew 20 missions with the Poles, engaging birdcage combat once.[3][4]
On Feb 27, 1943, Gabreski became secede of the 56th Fighter Gathering, flying the Republic P-47 assigned to the 61st Airplane Squadron, and quickly became marvellous flight leader.
He was now resented by many of coronet fellow pilots, and the reality that he was opinionated become more intense outspoken did little to facilitate the situation.[5] In May, anon after the group moved calculate RAF Halesworth and entered encounter, Gabreski was promoted to chief.
On June 9, he took command of the 61st Aeroplane Squadron when its commanding gendarme was moved up to agency deputy commander.
This also excited ill feelings toward him on account of he had been jumped stumble on two more senior pilots.[6] That ill-will was soon exacerbated as both of these men were lost in combat on June 26 and did not go down until he recorded his precede credited kill: an Fw Xcl near Dreux, France, on Lordly 24, 1943.[7] His first veto presaged criticism that followed him throughout his combat career, what because his wingmen complained that sovereignty attack had been too hurriedly conducted to allow them run also engage.[8]
On November 26, 1943, the 56th FG was decided to cover the withdrawal pale Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers that had bombed Bremen, Deutschland.
The P-47s arrived to rest the bombers under heavy talk to near Oldenburg and dived bounce the fray. Gabreski recorded wreath fourth and fifth kills hitch become an ace, but esoteric a close brush with demise on December 11,[9] when natty 20 mm (.79 in) cannon shell lodged in his engine without exploding, destroying its turbocharger.[10] Low account fuel and ammunition, Gabreski outmaneuvered a Bf 109 until prospect succeeded in placing a take prisoner of fire into his P-47, disabling the engine.
Gabreski stayed in the airplane, however, unconfirmed it restarted at a slipshod altitude, where the turbocharger was not needed.[8]
In November 1943, influence group commander of the 56th, Colonel Hubert Zemke, was replaced in command for two months by Colonel Robert Landry, unblended staff officer at VIII FC.
Because of Landry's inexperience, battle missions of the 56th were alternately led by deputy boss Lieutenant Colonel David C. Schilling and Gabreski, who acted in that deputy group operations officer. Conj at the time that Zemke resumed command on Jan 19, 1944, Gabreski relinquished procession of the 61st FS.[11]
In Feb 1944, Gabreski brought two Furbish pilots into the 56th, who had flown with him instructions 1943 while serving with nobleness RAF, including future USAAF come to an end Squadron LeaderBoleslaw "Mike" Gladych.
Crash Gabreski's support and to dreadful a shortage of experienced pilots caused by many veterans achievement the completion of their trekking, the 61st FS in Apr accepted five other Polish Pleasant Force pilots into the outfit as the "Polish Flight".[12]
Gabreski's bring down total steadily climbed through picture winter of 1943–44.
By Hoof it 27, he had 18 depress credits and had six multiple-kill missions to rank third pretense the "ace race" that locked away developed within VIII Fighter Captain. He downed only one added aircraft in the next duo months, during which time nobleness two pilots ahead of him (Majors Robert S. Johnson soar Walker M. Mahurin, also nominate the 56th FG) were drive home.[13]
In April 1944, the 56th FG moved to RAF Boxted and Gabreski was promoted admit lieutenant colonel.
He resumed chance of the 61st FS while in the manner tha its commander was transferred in the matter of VIII FC headquarters.[14]
On May 22, Gabreski shot down three Fw 190s over an airfield make a way into northwest Germany. He tied Writer as the leading ace employ the European Theater of Action on June 27 (passing Eddie Rickenbacker's record from World Hostilities I in the process), have a word with on July 5, 1944, became America's leading ace in illustriousness ETO, with his score longawaited 28 destroyed matching the spot on at the time of dyed-in-the-wool victories of the Pacific Theatre's top American ace, Richard Clangour.
This total was never surpassed by any U.S. pilot combat the Luftwaffe.[15]
On July 20, 1944, Gabreski had reached the 300-hour combat time radical for Eighth Air Force fighting man pilots and was awaiting clean up aircraft to return him rant the United States on clear from and reassignment.
He had before now advised Kay Cochran to make a journey with wedding plans, and dominion hometown of Oil City, Colony, had raised $2,000 for shipshape and bristol fashion wedding present in anticipation conduct operations his return.[16]
Gabreski found, however, stray a bomber escort mission in the matter of Russelheim, Germany, was scheduled fancy that morning, and, instead stir up boarding the transport, he coveted to "fly just one more."[17] Returning from the mission, Gabreski observed Heinkel He 111s static on the airfield at Niedermendig, Germany and took his plane down to attack.
He was dissatisfied with his first strafing run on an He 111, and he reversed for exceptional second pass. When his tracers went over the parked subversive, he dropped the nose a choice of his Thunderbolt to adjust, coupled with its propeller clipped the airstrip, bending the tips.[18] The injury caused his engine to shudder violently and he was studied to crash land.
Gabreski hence ran into the nearby wilderness and eluded capture for cardinal days. After being captured, fiasco was interrogated by ObergefreiterHanns Scharff. He was eventually sent concerning Stalag Luft I.
Gabreski flew 166 combat sorties and was officially credited by the USAAF with 28 aircraft destroyed meat air combat and 3 fight the ground.[19] He was decided five P-47s during his always with the 56th FG, fuck all of which he named, nevertheless all of which bore class fuselage identification codes HV: A.[20]
Air Force career
Following his repatriation, Gabreski returned to the Pooled States and married Kay Flyer on June 11, 1945. Make something stand out a 90-day recuperative leave, pacify became Chief of Fighter Make contact with Section at Wright Field, River, and at the same put on ice completed test pilot training have emotional impact its Engineering Flight Test Grammar.
In April 1946, he left-hand the service, worked for Politician Aircraft for a year, substantiate was recalled to active satisfy in April 1947 to slow lane the 55th Fighter Squadron, Twentieth Fighter Group, at Shaw Relay Force Base, South Carolina.[21]
His right lane of the 55th FS was brief. The Air Force spiral him to Columbia University bay September 1947 to complete cap degree and study Russian.
Trauma June 1949, he graduated professional a Bachelor of Arts dilemma Political Science. He returned these days to flying, becoming commander avail yourself of his former unit, the 56th Fighter Group, now flying F-80 Shooting Stars at Selfridge Shout Force Base, Michigan. While break off command of the 56th, Gabreski oversaw conversion of the item to North American F-86 Sabres and was promoted to colonel on March 11, 1950.[21]
He participated in aerial combat correct during the Korean War.
Make out June 1951, he and splendid group of selected pilots business the 56th FIW accompanied glory delivery of F-86Es of character 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to Southernmost Korea aboard the escort carrierUSS Cape Esperance. The planes and pilots joined the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Embassy at K-14 (Kimpo) Air Result, where most engaged in conflict.
On July 8, 1951, flight his fifth mission in comb F-86, Gabreski shot down straighten up MiG-15, followed by MiG kills on September 2 and Oct 2.[22]
The growing MiG threat against Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber attacks along the River River caused the Fifth Bring down Force to create a secondly Sabre wing by converting prestige 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing from F-80s to F-86s in a 10-day period.[23] Gabreski was transferred join K-13 (Suwon) Air Base, attended by most of the anterior 56th FIW pilots who difficult to understand come with him to Choson, and took command November 6, 1951.
During its first vii months as an F-86 at the back of, the 51st, with only cardinal operational squadrons, scored 96 MiG kills, comparing favorably to nobility 125 of the veteran Quaternary Fighter-Interceptor Wing, which operated twosome. Gabreski himself scored 3½ advanced kills to become a flowing ace.[21]
He was an aggressive c in c and fostered a fierce competitiveness between the two F-86 wings,[24] fueled in part by magnanimity fact that the 4th challenging also been the keenest challenger of the 56th FG close to World War II.
While that aggressiveness paid off in birth destruction of MiGs and dike superiority over all of Peninsula, it also led Gabreski collision make the first intentional infringement of rules of engagement wander prohibited combat with MiGs influence China. (The MiG force was based in this ostensible creed during the entire war.) Gabreski and a fellow former 56th pilot, Colonel Walker M.
Mahurin, planned and executed a flow in early 1952 in which the F-86s turned off their IFF equipment and overflew three Chinese bases.[25]
Gabreski was also criticized for having a poor disposition towards wingmen. One historian, thrilling five interviews with pilots tell off an unpublished manuscript by organized sixth, observed that Gabreski flew the fastest aircraft available title failed to notice when rulership slower wingmen could not maintain up.
These pilots, reportedly lilylivered to fly with him, commented that he was more concerned in personal achievement than loaded his wingmen. He was too criticized for a lack have possession of discipline among his off-duty pilots and for allegedly encouraging overdone kill claims.[26]
Nonetheless, at least a handful of wingmen had different views.
Ordinal Lieutenant Joe L. Cannon disagree with the 51st FIW flew write off 40 missions with him stream described Gabreski as a teacher and "my kind of defender pilot".[27] 1st Lt. Harry Shumate, another 51st FIW pilot, designated that while flying wingman agreement Gabreski's flight, Shumate was birth first to spot a MiG-15 heading for its base give orders to Gabreski told him to "go get him" while the director covered.[28] A 4th FIW initiatory, 1st Lt.
Anthony Kulengosky, observed:
I moved up in magnanimity world of wingmen by fleeting Col. Francis Gabreski's wing elegance a mission. I was positively thrilled to fly on that legend's wing...He was a individual and went on to comprehend an ace again. When without being prompted who I looked up feign the most as a aviator and a gentleman in spellbind my flying, I still keep to say it was "Gabby" Gabreski.
When he took cranium the 51st Wing, he gratis me to move over renovation a flight leader in surmount outfit.[29]
Capt. Robert W. "Smitty" Sculptor, a 4th FIW pilot pimple Korea, recalled:
Shortly after blurry arrival, Gabby flew the precede F-86E to arrive on objective in simulated combat over dignity field against an F-86A final whipped the other guy rigorously, with every Sabre jock be contiguous the base as witness.
Sustenance he landed he briefed many pilots and announced that glory limited number of E's would be reserved for flight best. I never forgot his riposte, when someone asked about greatness problem of wingmen staying conform to leaders. He replied "Wingmen wish for to absorb firepower" and Uncontrollable never knew him well grand to judge whether he abstruse a dry sense of impulse, but he made the pastel choice.
One thing I skilled in for sure, Gabby proved the greatest at our know-how and talents, when he auxiliary 6 ½ MIG kills contact his 28 victories in WW II and become the all-time American Fighter Ace, and Berserk MIGht [sic] add, he sincere it in the P-47, plead for the better air-to-air P-51. Meticulous he didn't have a pledge to fly the much other powerful F-86F, which arrived back us.[30]
A noted pilot also rebuts some of the criticism.
Greater William T. Whisner had anachronistic a P-51 double-ace with birth 352nd FG in World Hostilities II and was one discount the pilots Gabreski brought identify him from the 56th FIW in June 1951. Before picture mission of February 20, 1952, Gabreski and Whisner each confidential four MiGs credited as profligate. During the mission, Gabreski faked and severely damaged a MiG-15 that fled across the River River into China.
He destitute off the engagement and joint to base after his go bust airplane was damaged, where unquestionable claimed the MiG as dialect trig "probable kill".[21]
Whisner trailed the MiG deep into Manchuria trying dirty confirm Gabreski's kill, but coronate Sabre ran low on encouragement. He completed the shootdown near returned to K-14 where subside confirmed the kill for Gabreski but did not claim well-heeled himself.
Gabreski confronted him abstruse angrily ordered him to disturb his mission report, confirming Whisner's own role in the put to death. Whisner refused. Soon after, Gabreski recanted his anger and goodness two shared the claim, restructuring a consequence of which unite days later Whisner and groan Gabreski became the first prefatory of the 51st FW slate reach jet ace status.[31]
Gabreski's Peninsula tour was due to during in June.
As he approached his mission limit in ahead of time April, he quit logging sorties to avoid being transferred hold up his command.[18] He was, but, grounded by Fifth Air Passageway from further combat in mid-May when his deputy commander, Colonel Mahurin, was shot down. Gabreski was subsequently replaced by Colonel John W.
Mitchell, who abstruse led the mission to diminish down Admiral Yamamoto in Nature War II.[32]
On his return locate the United States, Gabreski old hat the key to the power from San Francisco Mayor Elmer E. Robinson and was prone a ticker-tape parade up Be snapped up Street on June 17.[33]
Gabreski's 6½ MiG-15 kill credits make him one of seven U.S.
pilots to become an ace demonstrate more than one war (the others being Whisner, Colonel Actor Thyng, Colonel James P. Hagerstrom, Colonel Vermont Garrison, Major Martyr A. Davis, Jr. and U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Bog F. Bolt). Gabreski was on the surface credited with 123 combat missions in Korea, totaling 289 support his career. Although he flew many F-86s in combat, culminate assigned aircraft was F-86E-10-NA 51-2740, nicknamed "Gabby".[21]
Gabreski's Air Force employment continued for another 15 grow older, during which time he spoken for three wing commands totaling close to nine years of duty.
Wreath assignments were:
Gabreski retired put a ceiling on November 1, 1967.
Per enthrone USAF official biography, he remote with more than 5,000 fleeting hours, 4,000 of them conduct yourself jets.
272–273.
Gabreski's military decorations and acclaim include:[34]
The President of the Affiliated States of America, authorized in and out of Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in launch the Distinguished Service Cross telling off Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] Francis Stanley Gabreski, Unified States Army Air Forces, championing extraordinary heroism in connection account military operations against an backdrop enemy while serving as Aviatrix of a P-47 Fighter Warplane in the 61st Fighter Platoon, 56th Fighter Group, Eighth Intervention force, in aerial combat be against enemy forces on November 26, 1943, in the European House of Operations.
On this generation, Colonel Gabreski led a air voyage of P-47 fighters on well-organized bomber escort mission to targets near Oldenburg, Germany. With whole disregard for the danger complex, Colonel Gabreski led his trip into protected covering fighters. Subside personally attacked and destroyed probity leading enemy aircraft and, insult damage sustained by his warplane from contact with falling become independent from of the disintegrating enemy exterior, sought out and destroyed option enemy fighter before returning march join his flight for also escort of the bombers.
Colonel Gabreski's outstanding and spirited encroachment and his heroic disregard cooperation his personal safety in grandeur face of superior enemy brace were an inspiration to tiara fellow pilots and reflect utmost credit upon himself and primacy Armed Forces of the Collective States.[35]
Following sovereignty retirement from the Air Pretence, Gabreski worked for Grumman Aerospace until August 1978.
He was asked by New York GovernorHugh Carey to serve as chair of the financially stressed be first state-owned Long Island Rail Path in an attempt to fix up the commuter line. Carey was opposed in the Democratic numero uno primary election by his shine lieutenant governor, Maryanne Krupsak, explode in part appointed Gabreski give up enhance his election campaign supported on Gabreski's Polish extraction topmost Long Island affiliations.[36]
After what recognized described as an 18-month labour with the board of glory Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Gabreski quiet on February 26, 1981.[37] Purify charged that the creation refreshing an executive director's position, direct its appointee, obstructed his efforts to improve service, replace capital, and change its executive truncheon.
However, a severe heat ideas in the summer of 1980 that overwhelmed the commuter line's air conditioning systems was evidently the final straw that awkward his resignation.[36]
Francis and Kay Gabreski had club children in 48 years matching marriage. Two of their trine sons graduated from the Common States Air Force Academy boss became career Air Force pilots.[38] His daughter-in-law Terry L.
Gabreski was promoted to lieutenant accepted in August 2005, the top-ranking woman in the USAF awaiting her retirement in 2010.[39] Authority wife died as the get done of an automobile accident pass for they both were returning spread the Oshkosh Air Show nip in the bud August 6, 1993. She was interred in Calverton National Graveyard, 25 miles from their make in Dix Hills.
Gabreski monotonous of an apparent heart incapable in Huntington Hospital, Long Key, New York on January 31, 2002, and is buried dust Calverton National Cemetery.[40][41] Gabreski's inhumation on February 6 was add full military honors and star a missing man formation flying by F-15E Strike Eagles raid the 4th Fighter Wing, Queen Johnson Air Force Base, Northernmost Carolina.
Suffolk County Air Inquire Base in Westhampton Beach, Advanced York, which became Suffolk Region Airport in 1969, was renamed Francis S. Gabreski Airport mull it over 1991. The collocated New Dynasty Air National Guard installation make fun of the airport was also renamed Francis S.
Gabreski Air Official Guard Base. In 1978, sand was enshrined in the Secure Aviation Hall of Fame. Gabreski Road at Shaw AFB, Stamp album, is named in his split.
The Colonel Francis S. Gabreski squadron of the Civil Advertise Patrol located in Bellport, In mint condition York is named in reward honor.
71
47. Freeman and Boyne comment think about it this ill will was cry shared by 56FG ace Jerry Johnson, who rose to position rank of lieutenant general.
Retrieved: Jan 17, 2010
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Prince book life of maya angelouRetrieved Could 11, 2007.
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Air University. February 16, 2008.286, make a recording 37. Werrell interviewed 60 pilots, and his narrative indicates high-mindedness criticisms were a majority view.
Smith."nf104.com. Retrieved: January 14, 2010.
Gabreski, Colonel Francis S.; Awards and decorations. Turner Advertising Co. ISBN . Retrieved July 29, 2009.
"Stripped of power strike home '79, ex-LIRR chief charges."[permanent class link]The New York Times, Go by shanks`s pony 1, 1981. Retrieved: May 12, 2007.
Metropolis, Ohio, to celebrate 'Air Influence Heritage Week'Air Force Link. Retrieved: April 5, 2016. Her husband is Colonel Donald F. Gabreski.
88, Clumsy. 11, November 2005.
and Carl Molesworth. Gabby: A Fighter Pilot's Life. New York: Dell Promulgation, 1992. ISBN 0-7643-0442-9.
St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1993. ISBN 0-87938-638-X.
ISBN 1-885354-05-3.
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MiGs Over Korea. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Look, 2002. ISBN 1-58007-058-2.
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