Francis Stanley Gabreski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Gabby |
| Born | January 28, 1919 Oil City, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 2002 (aged 83) Huntington, New York, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1967 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 15th Pursuit Group No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group |
| Commands | 61st Fighter Squadron 55th Fighter Squadron 56th Fighter Group 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing 354th Tactical Fighter Wing 18th Tactical Fighter Wing 52nd Fighter Wing |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (13) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (7) |
| Other work | Grumman Aerospace |
Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski; January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was a Polish-American career pilot in the United States Air Force who retired as a colonel after 26 years of military service. He was the top American and United States Army Air Forces fighter ace over Europe during World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War.
Although best known for his credited destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat and being one of only seven U.S. combat pilots to become an ace in two wars, Gabreski was also one of the Air Force's most accomplished leaders. In addition to commanding two fighter squadrons, he had six command tours at group or wing level, including one in combat in Korea, totaling over 11 years of command and 15 overall in operational fighter assignments.
After his Air Force career, Gabreski headed the Long Island Rail Road, a commuter railroad owned by the State of New York, and struggled in his attempts to improve its service and financial condition. After two and a half years, he resigned under pressure and went into full retirement.