Francis S. Gabreski

Francis Gabreski 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.… (más)

Francis Gabreski 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.… (más)

Probably only of interest to the biggest of military history buffs, but this was still very good. A Catholic guy who went to Notre Dame, dropped out to fly for the air force (Army Air Corps). This guy really was everywhere: one of the few guys who got up in the air at Pearl Harbor, went to fly with the Polish pilots in Spitfires over England, became a high scoring ace in Thunderbolts, was captured by the Germans on his last combat mission, went to fly in Korea and became an ace there in Sabre’s. I learned a lot about military doctrine during WWII. Early on, much of it was wrong. Air power was initially based on bombers and fighters were really only interceptors to stop bombers from reaching their targets. Once the US learned that its B-17 bombers were vulnerable to fighters, the US used its interceptors as fighter escorts. The skill of the German pilots decreased as more and more of them were shot down. Amazing stories and definitely worth reading if you can get through the military lingo. Gabreski lived in Santa Monica briefly and on bases all over California, including LA (Edwards) and ends his career as the highest scoring ace in the history of the US Air Force. Bibliography, b & w photos, limited index.… (más)