caption serviceyears laterwork branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date placeofburial nickname rank image article_title name
col. francis s. gabreski 1940 -- 46 , 1947 -- 67 long island rail road -lrb- president -rrb- 25px united states air force 30px 56th fighter group 30px 51st fighter-interceptor wing 30px 354th tactical 61st fighter wing 30px 18th tactical fighter wing 30px 52d fighter fighter wing -lrb- air defense -rrb- squadron 30px 55th fighter squadron 30px huntington , new york 31 january 2002 oil city , pennsylvania united states of america 25px silver star -lrb- 2 -rrb- 25px legion of merit 25px distinguished distinguished flying cross -lrb- 13 -rrb- 25px bronze star medal service 25px air medal -lrb- 5 -rrb- 25px cross of valor cross -lrb- poland -rrb- 25px distinguished service medal 25px world war ii korean war 28 january 1919 calverton national cemetery , new york gabby 25px colonel francis gabreski color photo in pilot suit.jpg gabby gabreski
 francis stanley gabreski
gabby gabreski

francis stanley `` gabby '' gabreski -lrb- born franciszek gabryszewski ; january 28 , 1919 -- january 31 , 2002 -rrb- was the top american fighter ace in europe during world war ii , a jet fighter ace in korea , and a career officer in the united states air force with more than 26 years service , retiring with the rank of colonel .
although best known for his credited destruction of 34 1/2 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 .
after his air force career , gabreski headed the long island rail road , a commuter railroad owned by the state of new york , and struggled in his attempts to improve its service and financial condition .
after two and a half years , he resigned under pressure and went into full retirement .
