Lost another one...

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Yesterday we lost another fella whom we all could never have thanked enough for what he did almost 60 years ago…

My good friend Mike, known here on the forum as Butz, informed me that a fella by the name of Walter Grabowski passed away yesterday. I don’t know any of the details; his age or what his ailment was. I do know he had been ill for a while. I’m sure Mike will fill in any blanks and make any corrections, he was able to meet Walter on at least a couple occasions as well as talk to him by phone on several others. (Walter was born here in Buffalo and moved to Mike’s hometown of Niagara Falls after the war.)

Anyhoo, he was a P-47 pilot in the 511th FS of the 405th FG, 9th AF. Some of you may have seen these photographs of Walter’s Jugs; one of them has appeared in almost every book written about the P-47…

P-47D-22-RE 42-26261

This aircraft was finished in OD over gray and carried the squadron color, yellow, on the cowling, alternating cowl flaps, exhaust flap and canopy framing. The rudder trim tab was outlined in yellow as well.

Points of interest:

Note the masking line & overspray near the edge of the yellow cowl band. Also, there appears to be a replacement panel on the cowling.

Note the heavily weathered area on the inner leading edge of the wing. (Most likely scuffed and chipped paint.)

Of great interest is the fact that this aircraft does not carry national insignia under both wings, a common practice with Jugs by the time these photos were taken in 1944/45.

And last, the circle (probably white) behind the code letter ‘S’. This was a squadron marking.

Added by Blackwolf 8/22/03:

HOW COULD I FORGET!!! This aircraft carried a malcom hood mod…

Here’s a color profile of the aircraft:

P-47D-30-RE 44-20392

This aircraft carries an impressive display of mission markings. It also has the canopy frames in yellow, and most likely has a yellow cowling band and cowl flaps, black-outlined yellow rudder trim tab and black circle behind the aircraft code letter.

Goodbye, Walter, and thanks a million.

Fade to Black…

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All my prays to family and friends. A warrior may rest in peace!

Chuck

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I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who have served their country, may God grant him peace.

Rich

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[V] I’m very sorry to here Ole Gabby passed on, he was a very great ACE and combat pilot for both wars he had fought in, men like him only come in our lives once in a great while, he will be missed dearly within the flying circles and aviation meets,
like Billy Joel said " Only Good Die Young!"

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Sorry to hear we’ve lost another hero. We owe our freedoms to him and those like him who fought for us.

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Cuda,

You’re thinking of Francis Gabreski who, unfortunately, also passed away earlier this year, I believe. Maybe it was last year, time do fly. Anyway, Gabby flew with Zemke’s Wolfpack, the 56th FG. This was a different fella, although he’s been mistaken for Gabreski many times by virtue of his name! An understandable mistake…

I’m not a religious person fellas, but to all who’ve responded so far; Amen.

Fade to Black…

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[V]All my prayers and regards to him and his family he will be missed very much and people like him are very few.

My great grand father that is still living is a ww2 vet and served in France he is 87 and god knows he wont be with us much longer. I read a artical that there are only a litle over 300 WW2 vets still living.[V]

We owe our freedom to guys like him and i cant thank them enough.

Derrek

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Another Jug Jockey gone :frowning:
My Dad left us in January. It’s his P-47 “Icky and Me” in the current issue’s readers’ gallery.

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Hey Black wolf;
Sorry my bad, hate to hear of one of the ole greats passing, still he’s quit the ace still with 12 kills, not to many get over 6, and he’s a Jug Driver to boot, like I said earlier he’ll be missed
cuda

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If I remember correctly, Gabby also flew in Korea, knocked down a few MiGs and I believe he retired as a General in the AF Reserves. Anyway, a great pilot, a great American and a great man. I’m sure he’s doing barrel rolls in his Jug somewhere right now.

Rich

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Fly High, Walter. We owe you a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.

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Clear skies, Mr. Grabowski. Someone greater is watching your six right now.

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A moment of silence to honor another lost from “The Greatest Generation”; our WW2 vets have so many stories but we are losing them faster than we can record their sights and deeds from so long ago. May no one forget the sacrifices made by that generation so that we can live in relative peace today. As I sit here and do relatively mundane things such as log on to this forum or even fuss over a modelling project I think to those young men in faraway places doing things many of us would be horrified to know the details of and hope to never experience. To me, they will always be true heroes; from “The halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli” as the song goes, they’d fought our country’s battles as representatives of ALL our armed services as well as representatives of their hometowns and families. God bless them and their families and thank you for your service and sacrifices.

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Hey all,
He passed away due to complications of a stroke that he suffered back in April of this year. Since then he was hospitalized until the wing commander called upon him at the young age of 81.
He was a good man indeed!!! Mr Grabowski and myself attened the same church and through my mom I got introduced to him.
Yet he was a very quite man, when I would come around, you could see his eyes widen and a big smile start to grow. Listening to his stories of flying during the war and his battles would just amaze me.
There are two things that will always stand out in my mind. One was his licsense plates on his car which read: Walts P47. How cool is that…!! The other is that his fellow squadron mate was Dean Hess. Later on he wrote a book(then a movie) called “Battle Hymn” On a few occasions he was Hess’s wingman.
There is so much to say or say about him that it would take forever…Snickers anyone[;)].
The time that I got to know Mr Grabowski will forever be charished and knowing such a man is an honor.
A moment of silence for Mr Grabowski and all who served our Country proudly then and now…
You will always be with us in our thoughts and prayers.
Heres to you sir… Flaps up.
Your bud, Mike

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May God bless him and his family. Rest in Peace.

Because of this man’s contribution and the sacrifices of many others, we live proud and free today.