FRANCIS S. 'GABBY' GABRESKI

FRANCIS S. 'GABBY' GABRESKI
(1919 – 2002) American career pilot in the Air Force who retired as a colonel after 26 years of military service. He was the top American ace over Europe during World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War, with 32 kills to his credit. Rare war-date A.L.S. 'F. S. Gabreski Lt. Col. A.C.' on Headquarters, Army Air Forces letterhead, 1p. 4to., Washington, June 27, 1945, in part: '...I'm more than pleased to favor you with a few lines. At the moment I'm spending a little time at home, and am really having the time of my life. My wife & I....' Very good. On July 20, 1944, Gabreski had reached the 300-hour combat time limit for Eighth Air Force fighter pilots and was awaiting an aircraft to return him to the United States on leave and reassignment. He had already advised his fiance to proceed with wedding plans, and his hometown of Oil City, Pennsylvania, had raised $2,000 for a wedding present in anticipation of his return. Gabreski found, however, that a bomber escort mission to Russelheim, Germany, was scheduled for that morning, and, instead of boarding the transport, he requested to 'fly just one more.' On a low strafing run, he crashed and was captured. Following his repatriation, Gabreski returned to the United States and married on June 11, 1945, just a bit over two weeks before he wrote this letter. SOLD WITH: a May 19, 1951 postal cover picturing Gabreski and signed by him; and three clippings including one reporting him MIA.