Frances "Gabby" Gabreski is America's top living Ace, and the top ace of the ETO. The medals above are a collection of the awards he won during his time on active duty. These include the distinguished service cross, silver star, legion of merit, distinguished flying cross, bronze star, air medal, POW and various campaign medals.
Gabby is credited with 28 air to air kills in WWII and 6.5 during the Korean War. Before the 8th AF had set up shop in England, Gabby had volunteered to fly as a liason officer with a polish squadron in the RAF. During his time with the poles he scored his first kill and learned valuable Air Combat Manuevering skills that he would be able to pass on. While with the poles he won various polish medals which are visible in the lower right.
Gabby was transferred back to the 8th AF and served with the 56th Fighter Group under Hub Zemke. The 56th was equipped with the P-47 "Thunderbolt." On the day Gabby was to be rotated home he decided to take part in one last mission. On a strafing run of a German airfield he bottomed out and crashed. He was taken prisoner and spent about nine months in a POW camp. He would later be joined by Hub Zemke.
(photo by David Brown, son of Warren Brown)
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