[Shawn 507]

I was wondering if Gabby ever trained on the Texan before he went overseas to fly Spitfires, then P-47s.

[STARMAN 352ND]

After his induction into the U.S. Army at Pittsburgh, Gabreski undertook primary flight training at Parks Air College, near East St. Louis, Illinois, flying the Stearman PT-17. Gabreski was a mediocre trainee, forced to pass an elimination check ride during primary to continue training,but he advanced to basic flight training at Gunter Army Air Base, Alabama, in the Vultee BT-13, and completed advanced training at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in the AT-6 Texan. Gabreski achieved his wings and his commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Corps in March 1941.

[Shawn 507]

Great, now I'll have a place to put the Texan in my collection. It just wouldn't fit anywhere, so I'll add it to the GA Spitfire, Dragon P-47 and Matchbox P-47 / F86 in my humble Gabreski collection. But I'm buying it because my grandfather qualified in one, only later to be grounded for flying below the deck and barnstorming.