Blood Red Skies: Ace Pilots

"Gabby" Gabreski was the top USAAF fighter ace over Europe during World War II and would go on to become an Ace in the Korean War (one of only 7 US pilots to become an Ace in two different wars) and a Colonel during his 26 years of military service. 

Trained on the P-36 and P-40, Gabreski began flying sorties in the wake of Pearl Harbour to intercept further Japanese attacks, though they had withdrawn. Gabreski volunteered and was accepted (as a Captain) on RAF duty with Polish pilots of No. 315 squadron. 

On February 27, 1943, Gabreski became part of the 56th Fighter Group, flying the Republic P-47C Thunderbolt, assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, and achieved 28 aerial victories, a total never surpassed in the theatre by U.S pilots engaged with the Luftwaffe.