Francis ‘Gabby’ Gabreski is well known as the leading USAAF air ‘Ace’ in the European Theatre of Operations, with 28 air combat victories. All of Gabreski’s kills came whilst flying with the USAAF 56th Fighter Group, in the mighty P-47 Thunderbolt.
He was also unusual in that he also flew combat missions with the RAF and not as part of the famous Eagle Squadrons! As his parents were Polish, Gabreski managed to convince 8th Air Force commanders that he should be allowed to gain combat experience with one of the RAF’s Polish squadrons, in advance of the arrival of American Units. Gabreski was assigned to No 315 (Polish) Squadron and flew this Spitfire Mk. IX (BS410) out of Northolt in early 1943.