PRINTER'S NO. 4044
No. 609 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, ROBERTS, WOJNAROSKI, LESCOVITZ, BEBKO-
JONES, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER, BARRAR, BELFANTI,
BENNINGHOFF, BUNT, CAPPELLI, CORRIGAN, COSTA, DeWEESE, EGOLF,
D. EVANS, J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FORCIER, GABIG,
GEIST, GEORGE, HARHAI, HERSHEY, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
KELLER, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LEH, LUCYK, MANN, MARKOSEK,
McCALL, McGILL, McILHATTAN, MELIO, NAILOR, PIPPY, PISTELLA,
READSHAW, ROONEY, RUBLEY, SATHER, SCHRODER, SCHULER, SHANER,
SOLOBAY, STABACK, SURRA, TIGUE, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD, ZUG,
E. Z. TAYLOR, S. MILLER, LEWIS, BROOKS, GRUCELA, ADOLPH,
COLEMAN, L. I. COHEN AND FRANKEL, JUNE 17, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 17, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Paying respect to the distinguished military service of Ret.
2 Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, a Venango County native, who
3 died on January 31, 2002.
4 WHEREAS, Ret. Col. Francis S. Gabreski was born in Oil City,
5 Venango County, Pennsylvania, and was America's air ace in World
6 War II and the Korean War; and
7 WHEREAS, Ret. Col. Gabreski began his flying days after
8 graduating from basic training in March 1941 as a second
9 lieutenant and joined a fighter unit at Wheeler Field in Hawaii;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, During his military service, Ret. Col. Gabreski flew
12 266 combat missions in two wars; and
13 WHEREAS, Flying single-engine P-47 Thunderbolt fighters, Ret.
1 Col. Gabreski downed 28 Messerschmitts and Focke Wulfs over
2 France and Germany between August 24, 1943, and July 5, 1944,
3 and destroyed three more German aircraft on the ground; and
4 WHEREAS, Ret. Col. Gabreski was captured in late July 1944
5 after crash-landing near Koblenz, Germany, on what was to have
6 been his last mission, and he spent ten months as a prisoner of
7 war; and
8 WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Ret. Col. Gabreski shot down
9 at least five enemy planes while flying an F-86 Sabre jet; and
10 WHEREAS, Throughout his military service, Ret. Col. Gabreski
11 earned numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Service
12 Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star,
13 French Legion D'Honneur, Polish Cross of Valor and other air
14 medals; and
15 WHEREAS, After the Korean War and a hero's welcome, Ret. Col.
16 Gabreski worked for Grumman Aerospace and was head of the Long
17 Island Rail Road; and
18 WHEREAS, Ret. Col. Gabreski died on January 31, 2002, at 83
19 years of age; and
20 WHEREAS, Ret. Col. Gabreski is survived by three sons, six
21 daughters, two sisters, 18 grandchildren and four great-
22 grandchildren; and
23 WHEREAS, The life and distinguished military career of Ret.
24 Col. Gabreski is worthy of emulation by the citizens of this
25 Commonwealth and recognition by the House of Representatives;
26 therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives pay respect to
28 the distinguished military service of Ret. Col. Francis S.
29 Gabreski, an Oil City native, who died on January 31, 2002.
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