‘Thunderbolt Top Gun’

Lieutenant Colonel Francis S. “Gabby” Gabreski
CO of 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, downs a Bf109 over Normandy, 5^th July 1944

by Simon Smith

After serving with a RAF Polish Spitfire squadron, Gabreski joined the 56^th Fighter Group in early 1943, flying P47 Thunderbolts. By November he had become an ace. Gabreski's victory total steadily climbed through the winter of 1943–44. By March 27, he had 18 victory credits and had six multiple-kill missions to rank third in the "ace race" that had developed within VIII Fighter Command.

In April 1944, the 56th FG moved to RAF Boxted and Gabreski was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

On May 22, Gabreski shot down three Fw 190s over an airfield in northwest Germany. He tied with Robert S Johnson, also a 56th FG ace, as the leading ace in the European Theater of Operations on June 27 (passing Eddie Rickenbacker's record from World War I in the process), and on July 5, 1944, became America's leading ace in the ETO, with his score of 28 destroyed. This total was never surpassed by any U.S. pilot fighting the Luftwaffe.

On July 20, 1944, Gabreski had reached the 300-hour combat time limit for Eighth Air Force fighter

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 Niedermendig, Germany and took his airplane down to attack.

Not happy with his first strafing run on an He 111, he went back for a second pass. When his tracers went too high, 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 eluded capture for five days. After being captured he was eventually sent to Stalag Luft I.

Gabreski flew 166 combat sorties and was officially credited by the USAAF with 28 aircraft destroyed in air combat and 3 on the ground.

This stunning painting brings to life this aerial conflict, paying respect to the courage of young airmen on both sides of the conflict during WW2.

Printed on heavy paper with superior 12 colour giclee process for lifetime colour fastness, this is a print of the highest quality.

You are buying direct from the artist. An original pencil drawing of your choice by the artist (drawn on lower margin of the print) can be ordered for an additional cost of £90.

Available in A2 standard size for convenient framing! (Paper size approx 16-1/2 x 23-3/8 inches  or  420 x 594 mm)

A2 sized print is signed by the artist and numbered from an edition of 200 prints. Supplied with Gabreskis ORIGINAL SIGNATURE! (This is on a separate piece of card, cut from a 'Return from Bremen' print he signed for me in the nineties) Supplied with certificate of authenticity

Canvas print edition available and size by arrangement.

HIGHEST QUALITY ART PRINT ON HEAVY ART PAPER WITH 12 COLOUR INK PRINTING TECHNOLOGY FOR SUPERB LIGHTFAST COLOUR REPRODUCTION!

Print sent rolled in a strong tube. please see my other aviation print and post card listings.

Sold and available only from the artist!