American Aces & Their Aircraft

Highest scoring ace in the European Theater was Lt. Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, who had 28 aerial victories and three strafing kills while flying P-47s in Col. Hubert "Hub" Zemke's famed 56th Fighter Group. He was commander of the 61st Fighter Squadron at the time he crashed his P-47D while strafing a German airfield in July 1944. He spent the remainder of the war as a POW.

For details, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabby_Gabreski

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Maj. Francis Gabreski downs an Me-210 with his 61st FS P-47D in late 1943. (2) Maj. Gabreski downs an Me-109G in early 1944. (3) Major Gabreski and his wingman in their 61st FS, 56th FG P-47Ds high above Germany in March 1944. (4) Major Gabreski meets with 61st FS ground staff after returning from a mission to Bremen in Jan. 1944. (5) Lt. Col. Gabreski scores his 28th and last aerial victory--an Me-109G--with his 61st FS, 56th FG P-47D in late June 1944. (6) Gabreski leads 61st FS, 56th FG P-47Ds in an attack on a heavily defended German airfield in July 1944. (7) Gabreski makes a final pass aiming at an He-111 bomber moments before accidentally contacting the ground with his propeller, forcing him to crash land on the airfield, where he was captured. (8) Lt. Col. Francis Gabreski.