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.

Watch: Francis Gabreski Documentary