WWII Ace Francis S. “Gabby” Gabreski – Oversized Illustrated Cover Signed

Description: WWII Ace Francis S. “Gabby” Gabreski – Oversized Illustrated Cover Signed Offered for your consideration is an oversized illustrated cover signed by an ace in both World War II and Korea. The left half of the cover is dominated by a large, black and white illustration identified as a P-47B, with a short description below. Beside this is an illustration of an ace of spades playing card, with “A REAL HERO … / THE AMERICAN ACE” printed at the top and bottom, respectively. Additionally, there is an illustration depicting a spread-winged bald eagle standing atop an American shield, attractively accented with the appropriate colors. Printed below these smaller illustrations is “COL Francis S. Gabreski / 4th FG/4th FIW/51st FIW / ACE of ACES – 34.5 Kills”, with the signature of “Gabby Gabreski” added near the bottom. His victory total represents service in World War II and Korea (28 in WWII and 6.5 in Korea). The back of the cover is blank. A nice addition to any American ace or World War II autograph collection (or Korea as well). Francis Stanley Gabreski was born on January 28, 1919 in Oil City, Pennsylvania. He was a pre-med student at the University of Notre Dame when he left in July, 1940 to join the United States Army Air Corps, subsequently graduating from pilot training at Maxwell Field, Alabama, on March 14, 1941. Following an initial assignment at Wheeler Field in Hawaii, Gabreski was sent to England in October, 1942, to serve as a liaison to the Polish Air Force (due to his Polish ancestry). He flew 20 missions with the Poles, after which he was assigned, in February, 1943, to the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. He scored his first aerial victory on August 24, 1943 with the destruction of a Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighter, and became an ace on November 26 of that same year with the downing of two Messerschmitt ME-110s. By July, 1944, Gabreski had been advanced to lieutenant colonel, and was the leading American ace in the European theater with 28 confirmed victories. Offering to lead one final mission before going home, Gabreski flew too low while strafing an airfield, hit a hill, and crash-landed. He spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft I. Gabreski left the Air Force as a colonel on September 1, 1946, though he returned to the service on April 7, 1947. In June, 1951, he was sent to Korea, where he was credited with 6.5 enemy aircraft destroyed. After the war, Gabreski remained in the Air Force until his retirement in November, 1967, after which he joined Grumman Aerospace Corporation. He left Grumman in August, 1978 and became president of the Long Island Railroad, apposition from which he resigned in 1981. Francis S. Gabreski died of an apparent heart attack on January 31, 2002 in Long Island, New York, and was subsequently buried in that city’s Calverton National Cemetery. The currently offered specimen, produced and signed especially for collectors, exhibits little sign of wear or mishandling. Minor toning may be present, though the original brightness of the envelope is not known. The contrast is sharp and bold, with the signature being added in black ink (a small “X” indicating where to sign appears in blue ink). The flap on the back has been adhered to the body of the envelope with the original glue. Light ink transfer of the design can be seen on the back. Minor wrinkling is present at the top, visible when viewed from the back. Measuring approximately 4⅛ x 9½ inches, this piece would be a great way to honor this brave American flyer. Any additional questions regarding condition should be addressed before purchasing. There will be free shipping on this item. If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing. Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2nd Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows. American Coins and CollectiblesShreveport, LA

Price: 52.99 USD

Location: Shreveport, Louisiana

End Time: 2024-12-04T23:26:23.000Z

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