Francis Gabreski

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Francis Gabreski

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born January 28, 1919 in Oil City , Pennsylvania , † January 31, 2002 in Huntington , New York ) was an American fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War .

Life

Childhood and youth

Gabreski was born the third of five children to his parents who immigrated from Poland. The father Stanley Gabryszewski came from Frampol in Poland, he married Jozefa Woloszcak, who also immigrated from Poland in 1909 in Oil City.

Second World War

Gabreski in his P-47D

Gabreski joined the United States Army Air Corps in July 1940 , which became the United States Army Air Forces in 1941 . He witnessed the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor as a pilot in the 45th Fighter Squadron of the 15th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii.

From January 1943 he flew from Royal Air Force Station Northolt for No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron . In February 1943 he moved to the 56th Fighter Group and commanded the 61st Fighter Squadron there . By July 1944 he had 28 kills, making it the most successful fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces in Europe.

On July 20, 1944, Gabreski escorted American bombers in an attack in the greater Frankfurt area. On the return flight, he attacked Niedermendig airfield at low altitude , due to ground contact or flak fire, Gabreski lost control of the machine and had to make an emergency landing between Mendig and Kruft . He escaped capture for four days, then he was handed over to the authorities by a farmer and spent the rest of the war in captivity in Stalag Luft I near Barth in what is now Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania .

Korean War

Gabreski (left) congratulates William T. Whisner

After a brief stint at Douglas Aircraft , Gabreski joined the new United States Air Force in 1947 . He served as commander of the 51st Fighter Wing in the Korean War and was also successful in that war with 6.5 confirmed kills.

Further use

After the Korean War, Gabreski continued his career in the Air Force. So he was among other things from August 1960 as commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in Okinawa and from July 1962 on the Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii; most recently as Inspector General of the Pacific Air Forces .

Gabreski retired on October 31, 1967 with the rank of Colonel from active service.

Private life

Gabreski met his future wife Catherine "Kay" Cochran, who came from Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin, in Hawaii as early as 1941. After their engagement in October 1942, they planned the wedding in July 1944 for August 1944; Gabreski had been given 30 days' leave.

On July 20, 1944, the planned date for the journey home, Gabreski had to make an emergency landing in Germany . At the end of July 1944, his fiancée and family received news that he was missing - Missing in Action .

At the end of August 1944, the War Ministry announced that Gabreski was being held in Germany as a prisoner of war.

After Gabreski was liberated by the Red Army in early May 1945 , the wedding finally took place on June 11, 1945.

Catherine "Kay" Cochran died in 1993 in a car accident.

Awards

Gabreski received numerous honors for his work and services:

United States Awards

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

"The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Francis S. Gabreski (0-406131), Major (Air Corps), US Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as pilot of a P-47 fighter airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on November 26 , 1943, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Major Gabreski shot down two enemy aircraft, bringing his total to this point in the war to more than 30 victories. Major Gabreski's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Eighth Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. "

- The President of the United States of America

National Aviation Hall of Fame

In 1978 Gabreski was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame .

Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base

The military and civilian Suffolk County Airport in Suffolk County (New York) has been named after Francis S. Gabreski since 1991.

Awards from other armed forces

Gabreski in 1956

Web links

Commons : Francis Gabreski  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c William E. Oliver: Inner Seven. The History of Seven Unique American Combat "Aces" of WWII & Korea . Turner Publishing Co., Paducah, Ky 1999, ISBN 1-56311-504-2 , pp. 37–52 ( books.google.de [accessed April 16, 2016]).
  2. ↑ a b Col. Francis S. Gabreski. In: History. United States Air Force, archived from the original on February 15, 2009 ; accessed on April 17, 2016 (English).
  3. ↑ a b c d Francis “Gabby” Gabreski. National Aviation Hall of Fame , accessed April 3, 2016 : "Enshrined 1978"
  4. ↑ https://www.luftkrieg-grossraum-koblenz.de/app/download/5809586538/20-07-1944_Francis+Stanley+Gabreski.pdf
  5. ↑ a b Richard Goldstein: Francis S. Gabreski, a World War II Air Ace, Dies at 83. The New York Times , February 2, 2002, accessed April 3, 2016 .
  6. ^ Nation's Top Air Ace Returning to Marry Prairie du Chien Girl. In: The Milwaukee Journal , Jul 5, 1944, p. 33 ( news.google.com ).
  7. ^ Wing Comm. Johnny Johnson Leads His Spits to New Win, Downing His 35th. In: Ottawa Citizen , July 5, 1944, p. 31 ( news.google.com ).
  8. ^ Prays for His Safety. In: The Milwaukee Sentinel , July 29, 1944, p. 10 ( news.google.com ).
  9. ↑ Gabreski, Air Hero, Prisoner in Reich. In: Gazette and Bulletin , August 25, 1944, p. 5 ( news.google.com ).
  10. ↑ Gabreski, Other Aces Set Free in Germany. In: The Milwaukee Journal , May 14, 1945, p. 23 ( news.google.com ).
  11. ^ The Distinguished Service Cross. US Army Air Forces Recipients - WWII. In: Home of Heroes. Retrieved April 5, 2016 .
  12. ↑ Gabreski Airport History. In: Francis S. Gabreski Airport. Suffolk County Government, accessed April 17, 2016 .
personal data
SURNAME Gabreski, Francis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gabreski, Francis Stanley (full name); Gabreski, Gabby (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American fighter pilot
DATE OF BIRTH January 28, 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH Oil City , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH January 31, 2002
Place of death Huntington , New York