Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Hangtime on February 01, 2002, 08:29:37 AM
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Got a call late last night from Linda Gabreski.
At the age of 82, Gabby has passed away.
I have no words... this guy was more than a hero.. he was a friend. He will be missed.
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Wow... sad news indeed.
xBAT
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Thanks to Gabby Gabreski for all that he did for us, even for those not born yet. And for being a part of an honorable page in our American history and the history of the world.
Condolences to those he left behind.
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Hang,
My condolences to Mrs. Gabreski.
to Gabby... one of a kind.
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He was a true Hero in all sense of the word.
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A true hero indeed.
Condolences to his family.
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Gabby has 9 kids... Linda is one of them. Gabby lived alone, his wife died some years ago in a horrible car accident they had on the way back from a commemorative event at Dayton Field.
Gabby was involved with our R/C modeling club, in fact we were scheduled to pick him and his big nose up next Thursday night, we were going to Hooters. :) He liked that place.. and the 56th FG restraunt in Farmingdale. His study looks like an aeromodeling museum.. he was in touch with most of his living contemporaries, and dammit I can't type anymore.
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All of us, in uniform or not, can learn much from the career of Col. Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski. He was, as most readers know, the leading US ace in the World War II European theater and is now the top living American ace, with 34.5 victories. He was not a born fighter pilot--if there is such a thing--but a man who reached the pinnacle of his profession by determination, dedication, and intelligence. His aggressive nature and competitive spirit were tempered by personal charm, good humor, and what Col. Hubert A. "Hub" Zemke noted as Gabreski's "natural exuberance."
Born of Polish immigrant parents in Oil City, Pa., he grew up bilingual, a fact that influenced the development of his Air Force career and probably saved his life many years later. While he worked his way through college at Notre Dame, he became interested in airplanes and used the few dollars he could spare for flying lessons. He did not excel. After his second year in college, he joined the Army Air Forces and squeaked through primary pilot training after being recommended for elimination by his instructor. Determination and faith in his ability got him through and, after graduation, to an assignment at Wheeler Field, Hawaii.
At Wheeler, Gabreski met Catherine Cochran, who later would become his wife. Their romance was interrupted on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. As soon as the rubble could be cleared from the field, Gabby took off in an obsolete P-36 in pursuit of the departing enemy but too late to shoot or to be shot at by anyone other than trigger-happy Yanks on the ground.
Gabreski spent the next several months perfecting his flying. After several requests for a combat assignment were turned down, he tried another tack. Since he spoke fluent Polish, why not an assignment with one of the Polish squadrons flying with the RAF? After many delays, he was posted to the Polish-manned 315th Squadron at Northolt in the UK. The 315th was delighted to see him and gave him operational training in Spitfires, under combat conditions.
After some weeks with the Polish squadron, Gabreski was assigned to Zemke's 56th Fighter Group, flying P-47 Thunderbolts. The group was still in training, so Gabreski held an edge in operational experience when they entered combat in April 1943. Much to his disappointment, he flew several missions when no enemy airplanes were sighted, and by chance he was not on the board when the 56th did find targets. His frustration ended on August 24, 1943, when he scored his first victory. From that day on, victories came frequently, often by doubles and triples, until he led both the group and all AAF fighter pilots in the theater.
In his book, Gabby, A Fighter Pilot's Life, he describes the mission of Dec. 11, 1943, as the most exciting of his tour in Europe. Then a major, he was leading a squadron of P-47s on an escort mission. When they rendezvoused with the bombers, the B-17s were under attack by 40 Bf-110s. In the melee, Gabreski became separated from the rest of the squadron and found himself perilously alone at 30,000 feet, when he spotted three more Bf-110s below him. Diving to the attack, he shot down one of them.
By this time, Gabby's fuel was getting low and he was heading for home, when he was attacked by a single Bf-109 coming up from below. Clearly, this man was a hunter with serious intent. Not having enough fuel to mix it up with an aggressive enemy, Gabreski decided the best tactic was to run his pursuer out of ammunition. This would call for very precise timing and maneuvering. Twice, he eluded the -109 with steep climbing turns as it began to fire. The third time, his opponent got a hit that shot off one of Gabby's rudder pedals and creased his boot. The P-47 lost power due to a damaged turbocharger. Gabreski was about to bail out when he noted that his engine was producing enough power to keep him in the game. But there was no way he could survive unless he could reach a cloud bank below. The enemy pilot followed, but Gabby finally lost him and turned for the UK, hoping he had enough fuel to make it across the North Sea. He landed at Manston, on the English coast, just as his engine quit.
Several months later, after he completed 193 missions, the Air Force sent him home. While waiting to board the plane that would fly him to the US, Gabreski discovered that a mission was scheduled for that morning. He took his bags off the transport and wangled permission to "fly just one more." While strafing an enemy airfield, his prop hit a rise at the end of the field and he was forced to belly-in. He eluded the enemy for five days. During his run for freedom, he encountered a Polish-speaking forced laborer whom he persuaded to bring him food and water, but he finally was captured and was a POW at Stalag Luft I in Germany for eight months until the war ended.
After the war, Gabreski spent several years in flight testing and in command of fighter units before he succeeded in getting an assignment to Korea as commander of the 51st Fighter Wing. He played a major role in developing tactics for a new kind of war-a jet war-and shot down 6.5 MiG-15s between July 1951 and April 1952. He is one of only seven USAF pilots who were aces in both World War II and the Korean War. He ended a distinguished Air Force career as commander of several tactical and air defense wings before launching another successful career with the aviation industry and as president of the Long Island Rail Road.
No aspiring fighter pilot can become a 34.5-victory ace by reading about Gabby Gabreski's combat career, but his unflagging determination to reach the top of his profession is an inspiration for all.
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0797valor.html
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Hate to hear that. :(
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Sad news indeed.
to one of the truelly greats.I hope when he enters those pearly gates they've got the shiney P47 all fired up for him :)
I wish his family and kids all the best,and our prayers are with them in this difficult time.
I dont know if you all know this but when men do daring things it was a tradition to call the name of the bravest of the brave, hence 'Geronimo'. When i did a parachute jump from 12000 feet I called that name because I liked the idea behind calling the name on the wind to honour those that have passed.
I'll be calling 'Gabreski' next jump and i hope he hears me.
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:(
Gabby, and thank you for serving your country well.
mauser
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! Think I'll fly a Jug today.
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Yea...tonight I'm gonna forgo my 38 for abit and fly in my 2nd fav plane the p-47.
Galaditor the Movie had a neat line "what you do in this life echo's in eternity" I'd say the man is gonna make alot of noise so to speak.
xBAT
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Thanx for the history Eagler.I will be sure to read his book.Sorry you lost a close friend Hangtime.My condolences to you and Gabby's family...Would you happen to have any pics of his RC models?I for one would love to see some..
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Cya up there Gabby, our loss is heaven's gain.
I have a suggestion but it sounds kinda sappy but I think it would be fitting.
How bout we suspend hostilities in the MA tonight at 900pmCST for a few minutes and we all meet in the middle of the map with P47's and form up. Have a moment of silence and say thanks for Gabby and guys like him. For heros we have lost, those that are still with us and those yet to come.
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Gabby. A friend and a hero for me as well. I will dearly miss him.
-- Todd/Leviathn
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Big
Gabby.
A big Jug fly-by would be great.
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Originally posted by Hangtime
Got a call late last night from Linda Gabreski.
At the age of 82, Gabby has passed away.
I have no words... this guy was more than a hero.. he was a friend. He will be missed.
This is very sad news.....
I never came to know Gabby anywhere near as well as I did Bob Johnson. However, like Bob, Gabby was one of my childhood heros. Back in the early 1960s, I wrote countless letters to both men. Without fail, they would take time to answer the child-minded questions I posed. As an adult I could truly appreciate the time and effort they put into answering me.
Back the early 1980s, I would often see Gabby driving in his little Dodge Omni, with his trademark license plate, which said T-BOLT. We would always exchange waves.
Indeed, the last time we spoke was at an airshow here on Long Island, at Gabreski Airport to be specific. He looked increasingly frail then. Although Gabby recognized my face he couldn't recall my name. However, when I mentioned my letters, his eyes lit up and a huge grin filled his face. "Yes, now I remember you!" he said, shaking my hand vigorously.
I recall when Bob Johnson told me that he would be going to Lawton, Oklahoma to spend the Christmas holidays with family. It never crossed my mind that this might be our last conversation. Bob died on the one-year anniversary of my father's death. So, for me, that date has increased meaning.
The fact that Gabby was one of this nation's greatest fighter pilots pales in significance when viewed alongside his kindness, generosity and humility.
I for one, will cherish his memory as one of the finest men I have had the great fortune to meet.
God speed, Gabby.
My regards,
Widewing
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Originally posted by Raubvogel
! Think I'll fly a Jug today.
Me too...
Say, do you think we could organize a ceasefire long enough to put up a Rook, Bish and Knit formation of Jugs? For most of those here, that's the best they'll be able to do.
My regards,
Widewing
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N/T
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Hangtime, please e-mail me
bartek@mindspring.com
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S! Gabby
thank you for you're service to our nation!!!!!
U
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I give a heartfelt salute to Col. Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski and all those others who have served our country so well. It is because of their sacrifices that we enjoy the freedom we have today.
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Tell Bob I said hi, Gabs. :)
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Gabby
Your jug will shine in our minds forever.
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Oh man that really sucks. What a great guy he was. Northolt Wing had the pleasure of hosting him at Warbirds Con 2000 and we all got to know him a little. Listening to him talk and seeing how he carried himself really made me proud to be an American.
I'll never forget what he told us about Spitfires. "The Spit Nine, now that was a FIGHTER fighter."
Rest in Peace Gabby.
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Gabby,
A real hero, gentleman and great human being. He is a true inspiration. There has to be a special place in heaven for a man like that.
Fair skies and tailwinds....!!!
Mav
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:(
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:( , Gabby, and Godspeed.
Someone please film the fly by and post it....
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Is someone organizing the flyby? What time?
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Camo
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Gabby. Although his mortal body passed away, he lives on, forever, in our memories. Let us remember what he did, why he did it, and the values he held to his last day. Truly, a great hero. Lest we forget!
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Very sad news. Sancho and I chose to represent the 56th FG here in AH with heroes like Gabby, Bob Johnson, Hub Zemke, Gerald Johnson, Crazy Mike Gladych, etc... on our minds. I did meet Gabby, however I never got the chance to know him. It will be my loss.
For those that don't know, the P-47D11 modeled in AH *HV-A* is the very AC that Gabby racked up his score with in early 1944.
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Francis "Gabby" Gabreski.
I am very sorry to hear this news. I wish I could have met him and I extend my condolences to his wife.
He made a difference and will be missed.
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to Francis Gabreski.
:(
eskimo
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Originally posted by -ammo-
For those that don't know, the P-47D11 modeled in AH *HV-A* is the very AC that Gabby racked up his score with in early 1944.
I read about that in the "Who flew them?" thread. And as a sad coincidence decided to take it up for a sortie, for the first time, last night.
Mr. Gabreski, where ever you are, and thank you.
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SAD, very sad news A few years back A man came into my store and had a birthday shirt custom made for Him, I was so proud to do the shirt.
Surely a sad day.
NUTTZ
I will FLy the Jug for the rest of the tour in his Honor.
Originally posted by Hangtime
Gabby has 9 kids... Linda is one of them. Gabby lived alone, his wife died some years ago in a horrible car accident they had on the way back from a commemorative event at Dayton Field.
Gabby was involved with our R/C modeling club, in fact we were scheduled to pick him and his big nose up next Thursday night, we were going to Hooters. :) He liked that place.. and the 56th FG restraunt in Farmingdale. His study looks like an aeromodeling museum.. he was in touch with most of his living contemporaries, and dammit I can't type anymore.
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Another hero of mine passes! :( I believe I was 6 or 7 years old when I first started folllowing fighter pilots and Gabby was one of the first I remember. It is truely a sad day.
Hang, and others to have interacted with these men, do they realize that they have younger men like us who practically idolize them, read about all their exploits, and hold them in a deep regard? I've always wondered that.
I asked a car to pull over that had WWII ACE on their licence plate. He actually pulled over! He was from Carlisle. Penna. and flew P-51s for the 15th AF. He shot down 5 or 6 planes in WWII. He seemed gladly surprised about my intrest in WWII pilots. I believed he was flattered.
There are so few left. :(
Salute and may God bless!!!!
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Hang, and others to have interacted with these men, do they realize that they have younger men like us who practically idolize them, read about all their exploits, and hold them in a deep regard? I've always wondered that.
Swager, Gabby definitely realized it. As happy as we were to meet him, he seemed just as happy that there were people who strongly appreciated and had interest in what he had done.
Plus we knew the history and knew the jargon, so he could tell just about any old story without having to "dumb it down". As he told us at one point while describing some engagement, "Ya know what I like about you guys, I don't have to EXPLAIN anything."
All the WWII aircrew I have met have expressed similar feelings. The first few times I met guys like that I was very shy and felt very weird asking them questions. But I quickly found that the guys who come to such events are guys who want to share, and they are excited that people have interest in their experiences.
Once you get some of these guys going they will really tell you some amazing stuff. And not just about dry subjects like deflection shooting or aircraft performance. They can tell you things that only come from the mouth of somebody who has faced death and adversity and attained the wisdom of old age. Most of them have a few incredibly funny stories too.
Maybe most importantly, the experience of talking to these guys has helped me to be able to ask questions of the old soldiers in my own family, for which I am very grateful. I hope everybody will take advantage of any such opportunities they have, because these guys won't be around forever.
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Francis Gabreski was a common sight at Long Island Airshows.
You could never miss him....he was usually surrounded by people waiting to meet him.
I had the privelage of meeting him twice. The first time I bought his book and stood on line. The line was about 20 people in length but it took forever to move because Mr. Gabreski made sure that he made contact with everyone. He signed my book, we spoke about the P47 vs FW matchup and he swore that once a FW tried to head for the deck they were mice meat for a 47.
He gave me a strong handshake for someone his age. I recall it well.
The second time was at a Wings Over Long Island Air Show. It was near the end of the day and few were around. As my friend Larry and I were leaving we saw him and one of his children heading in the same direction as us. We hooked up with him and spoke for a long long time. The sun was setting, it was warm, we all walked slowly and I was speaking to he highest scoring American Ace. It was one of those outstanding moments.
Salute Gabby.
Karaya One
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It is a sad day indead, It is always sad to hear of these men passing,No matter whear their from or what branch of service they were in, their exploits have provided us with role models and given us heros who are real and who's deads and scacrifes were for the betterment of us all. they live on in us for as the saying goes, they are not realy gone for they live on in us.
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I am still organizing it, but Northolt Wing will probably be doing a dual memorial flyby on Sunday around 1pm, in the CT.
Two of the aircraft in AH are the personal mounts of real Northolt Wing members who passed away recently. The Spit IX RF-M of Jan Falkowski, who was a commander of Northolt Wing, the P-47D-11 HV-A of Col. Gabreski, who flew combat missions with the Wing's 315 Squadron. I'm planning to have a 4-ship of each type doing simultaneous missing man flybys.
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When they were young they saved the world..
Gabby
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... and as they grew older, they rebuilt it into a better place.
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I wonder how many famous aces of WW2 are still alive...Anybody knows about Hartman,Galland,Johnson???
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Truly a sad day for all of us who are aviation fans. Gabby was something special, and will be sorely missed. I don't have to remind you but Gabby probably isn't the only veteran of that great conflict from 1939 to 1945 that passed away yesterday. Because time does not call a truce, we lose many special people on an all to frequent basis. Men like my father who fought from North Africa to Anzio.....some who fought in "The Battle of the Bulge, Okinawa, the Alleutians. We are losing heroes daily because time will do what their enemies' could not do. Let us remember not only great heroes like Gabby Gabreski, but also those who manned the guns onboard at Midway, landed at Sicily, Omaha, Juno, and gold beaches. Who flew from the carriers in the Pacific, and those who were forced to march in Bataan. We have many heroes who fought in Korea, as well as Viet Nam. You see........we have so many heroes to be thankful for.....we have so many heroes to thank.
I am reminded somewhat of a scene from Macbeth, in which Macbeth is talking to the gravedigger near his fathers funeral...in essence he asks the gravedigger how long he'd been doing his work.....the grave digger responded " I started my work the day you were born"
We have so little time left with these heroes of "The Greatest Generation" Let's keep them all special....all the time.
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At a loss for words..... .. :(
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Top WWII Fighter Dies
Gabreski, of Dix Hills, was a hero over Europe
By Arnold Abrams
Staff Writer
(http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2002-02/1865300.jpg)
February 2, 2002
At the controls of the Thunderbolt, a single-engine fighter produced by the now-defunct Republic Aviation Corp. of Farmingdale, Francis Gabreski downed 28 German aircraft to become the top American ace in Europe in World World II. He went on to fight in the Korean conflict, where, manning a sleeker and faster F-86 Sabre Jet, he was credited with killing 6.5 enemy MiG fighters.
Col. Gabreski, who was the nation's highest-ranking fighter ace, died of a heart attack Thursday at Huntington Hospital. He was 83 and a Dix Hills resident.
But among the numerous honors he accrued for his combat exploits, Gabreski ranked his 1978 admission to the nation's aviation hall of fame and the renaming of Suffolk County's Westhampton airport for him in 1992 as among the most appreciated.
Despite his legendary achievements, Gabreski, a dedicated man who stressed loyalty and personal discipline, never lost his knack for speaking bluntly.
When describing his first downing of a German Messerschmitt fighter, for example, he openly admitted the experience was frightful. "I said, ‘Oh my God, somebody can do the same thing to me,' and it scared the hell out of me,” he said.
Similarly, after being appointed president of the Long Island Rail Road, a post he held from 1978 to 1981, he became known as an employee advocate and publicly conceded that the line's commuter service "stinks.”
"My father said a lot of things you're not supposed to say,” said his daughter Frances Phillips of Westhampton, one of the nine children of Gabreski and his late wife Catherine, who was killed in a 1993 auto accident. "He was a straightforward man.”
Gen. Jerry Johnson, 82, one of the colonel's closest friends, recalled that, in keeping with his no-frills personality, Gabreski gracefully accepted much ribbing from colleagues about his military honors.
"He knew what he was, and he was not a god,” said Johnson, a resident of St. Petersburg, Fla., who retired from the Air Force in 1974 and, with 18 enemy kills to his credit, may succeed Gabreski as the nation's highest-ranking living ace. "In fact, he would say that if he could shoot as well as me, he would have done a lot better.”
Gabreski, who was born in Oil City, Pa., was downed near the end of World War II and spent several months in a German prison camp. When he retired from the Air Force in 1967, he had flown more combat missions than any other American pilot.
In one of his last interviews about a week ago, Gabreski, describing himself as "a relic from World War II,” said he had always considered it a duty to "perpetuate what this country did during that war.”
"I love this country, and I'm proud to be an American,” he said. "If we hadn't won the war, this world would now be an entirely different place.”
Gov. George Pataki, who met him several times at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, said that through his combat exploits, Gabreski "created a legacy of excellence as a military leader and left a nation far stronger and far better prepared to defend its freedoms.”
In addition to his daughter Frances Phillips, Gabreski is survived by five other daughters and three sons: Djoni Murphy of Trego, Wis.; Mary Ann Bruno of Reno, Nev.; Patricia Covino of Westhampton; Linda Kay Gabreski of Huntington Station; Debbie Burkhart of South Huntington; Donald Gabreski of Dayton, Ohio; Jim Gabreski of Melbourne, Fla.; and Robert Gabreski of Holmes Beach, Fla. Other survivors include 18 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two sisters.
Visitation will be at the Mangano Funeral Home, 1701 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, on Monday from 6-9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2-5 and 7-9:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, 35 North Service Rd., Dix Hills. Burial will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
(http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2002-02/1865215.jpg)
edit by Hangtime: His son Don retired from the Air Force to help take care of the kids.. because Don's wife is an Air Force General. Gabby pinned her Stars at a special ceremony held a Ramstein AFB and was a very very proud Daddy. ;)
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Aw man. I was deeply saddened to read of this news. I just finished reading his book a couple weeks ago too and was hoping to meet him one day. :(
Gabby. Thank you for your bravery, your leadership, your service to our country, and for being such an inspiration to so many.
This post needs another Gabby bird:
(http://www1.jump.net/~cs3/pix/stripes-2.jpg)
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Originally posted by funkedup
I am still organizing it, but Northolt Wing will probably be doing a dual memorial flyby on Sunday around 1pm, in the CT.
Two of the aircraft in AH are the personal mounts of real Northolt Wing members who passed away recently. The Spit IX RF-M of Jan Falkowski, who was a commander of Northolt Wing, the P-47D-11 HV-A of Col. Gabreski, who flew combat missions with the Wing's 315 Squadron. I'm planning to have a 4-ship of each type doing simultaneous missing man flybys.
If you need somebody to fly jug, I'll be there.
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Hangtime, are you planning on attending the funeral on Wednesday ?
I'll try to be there.
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sent yah an email.. will be at the viewing monday night. Can't get away from work on wednesday.. boss out of town. :(
For those planning to attend... thank you.
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Hangtime and all those who have posted:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the passing of such a true hero.
Everytime you meet a Veteran, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME OUT TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID, AND FOR WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE WILLINGLY WOULD HAVE DONE....THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
Salute to you SIR.