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[–] someguyfromcanada [S] 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago  (edited ago)

"Gabby" Gabreski (1919 – 2002) 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. He is credited with the destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat and also being one of only seven U.S. combat pilots to become an ace in two wars.

On July 20, 1944, Gabreski had reached the 300-hour combat time limit for fighter pilots and was awaiting an aircraft to return him to the US on leave and reassignment. He had already advised his finacee 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." Returning from the mission, Gabreski observed Heinkel He 111s parked on the airfield at Bassenheim, Germany, and took his airplane down to attack. He was dissatisfied with his first strafing run on an He 111, and he reversed for a second pass. When his tracers went over the parked bomber, he dropped the nose of his Thunderbolt to adjust, and its propeller clipped the runway, bending the tips. The damage caused his engine to vibrate violently and he was forced to crash land. Gabreski ran into nearby woods and eluded capture for five days. After being captured and interrogated by Obergefreiter Hanns Scharff, he was sent to Stalag Luft I. He was liberated when Soviet forces seized the camp in April 1945.

Source.