Quick Facts
| Nationality | American 🇺🇸 |
| Aerial Victories | 34.5 (WWII) + 6.5 (Korea) = 41 total |
| Aircraft Flown | P-47 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre |
| Wars | World War II (Europe), Korean War |
| Born / Died | 28 Jan 1919 – 31 Jan 2002 (age 83) |
| Unit | 56th Fighter Group (WWII), 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing (Korea) |
When Americans think of fighter aces in the skies over Europe, one name stands above all others: Francis "Gabby" Gabreski. With 28 aerial victories in World War II and a further 6.5 in Korea, he became the only USAAF pilot to achieve ace status in two separate wars.
A Polish-American Warrior
Born Francis Stanley Gabreski on 28 January 1919 in Oil City, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Polish immigrants. He learned to fly at Notre Dame University and joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. After Pearl Harbor, while stationed in Hawaii, he arranged a transfer to the RAF's Polish squadrons in England — wanting to fight alongside the countrymen of his heritage and to learn from the battle-hardened Polish pilots who had already been at war for three years.
The Thunderbolt Master
Gabreski flew the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt with the 56th Fighter Group — the "Wolfpack" — one of the most successful fighter groups in USAAF history. The P-47 was not the most elegant fighter in the war, but in Gabreski's hands it was devastating. He used its power and speed to slash through Luftwaffe formations, climbing away from damaged aircraft and returning for another pass.
By mid-1944 Gabreski had 28 confirmed victories, making him the highest-scoring American ace in the European Theatre. On 20 July 1944 — just days before he was due to rotate home — he flew one last low strafing mission. His propeller clipped the ground on a low pass, forcing him to belly-land behind enemy lines. He was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner at Stalag Luft I.
Back in the Cockpit — Again
Gabreski returned to military flying after the war, transitioning to jets. When the Korean War broke out he flew the F-86 Sabre, scoring 6.5 aerial victories against MiG-15s — making him one of the rare few to achieve ace status in both World War II and Korea. His combat total of 34.5 aerial victories is one of the highest in American aviation history.
A Long and Distinguished Career
Gabreski retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1967, later joining Grumman as a corporate executive. He remained a beloved figure in aviation circles until his death on 31 January 2002, just days after his 83rd birthday. Modest and unassuming despite his extraordinary record, Gabby Gabreski is remembered as the definitive American fighter ace of the Second World War — and one of the finest combat pilots the United States ever produced.
“Flying is not a job. It is a way of life. And combat is the ultimate test of that life.”
— Francis "Gabby" GabreskiWatch: Francis Gabreski Documentary
Related Questions
Who was Gabby Gabreski?
Francis 'Gabby' Gabreski (1919–2002) was an American fighter ace and the only USAAF pilot to become an ace in two separate wars. The son of Polish immigrants, he scored 28 aerial victories flying the P-47 Thunderbolt over Europe in World War II, then added 6.5 more in the F-86 Sabre during the Korean War, for a combined 34.5.
How many victories did Gabby Gabreski have?
Gabby Gabreski recorded 28 aerial victories in World War II — the most of any American ace in the European Theatre — and 6.5 more in the Korean War, giving a combined total of 34.5, among the highest in American aviation history. He was one of only a handful of US pilots to achieve ace status in both World War II and Korea.
What plane did Gabby Gabreski fly?
Gabby Gabreski flew the rugged Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in World War II, using its power and speed to slash through Luftwaffe formations over Europe. In the Korean War he switched to the jet-powered North American F-86 Sabre, dueling MiG-15 fighters. He fought across two very different eras of air combat, piston and jet.
How did Gabby Gabreski become a prisoner of war?
Gabreski was captured on 20 July 1944, days before he was due to rotate home. On a low strafing run his propeller clipped the ground, forcing him to belly-land his P-47 behind enemy lines. He spent the rest of the war as a prisoner at Stalag Luft I, then returned to flying afterward and fought again in Korea.
Why did Gabreski fly with the RAF first?
Gabreski, stationed in Hawaii at the time of Pearl Harbor, arranged a transfer to the RAF's Polish squadrons in Britain so he could fight alongside the countrymen of his immigrant parents. The experience seasoned him before he joined the US 56th Fighter Group. Other aces took equally unusual paths, like France's Pierre Le Gloan, who downed aircraft from four nations.
Who was the top American ace in Europe?
Gabby Gabreski was the highest-scoring American ace of the European Theatre in World War II, with 28 victories. In the Pacific, that distinction — and the US all-time record — belonged to Richard Bong with 40 kills. Gabreski's unique feat was adding jet victories in Korea years later to become an ace in two wars.
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