Unk cu. ft.
Call Nos. 168.7267, 168.7267-1 through 131
IRIS Nos. 1095748 through 1095880, 48000127, and 48000128
General Gabriel was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina. He attended Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina for two years before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in June 1950 with a B.S. degree. He earned an M.S. degree in engineering management from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.; completed courses at the Naval War College (Command and Staff), Newport, Rhode Island; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. After completing pilot training at Goodfellow AFB in Texas and Craig AFB in Alabama, he was assigned to the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing and the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in South Korea. He flew 100 combat missions in F-51s and F-86s and was credited with shooting down two MiG-15s.
During his tenure of over thirty-five years of military service (1950 through 1986), he held numerous key positions culminating his career as the eleventh Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He served as a pilot and squadron air operations officer, 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Landstuhl AB, Germany; squadron air officer commanding, USAF Academy, Colorado; adjutant for the 3550th Pilot Training Group and Commander Headquarters Squadron Section, Moody AFB, Georgia; staff officer, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C.; executive officer to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mons, Belgium; commander, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand; deputy of operational forces and deputy director of operations, Headquarters USAF; Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia.; deputy commander in chief, U.S. Forces Korea and deputy commander in chief, United Nations Command, Seoul, Korea; deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and readiness, Headquarters USAF; Commander in Chief, USAFE and Commander of Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein AB. In July 1982 he was named the 11th Air Force Chief of Staff. General Gabriel retired on July 1, 1986.
This personal papers collection primarily pertains to the period of 1982 through January 1986. Included are official and unofficial letters, correspondence, notes, lists, messages, invitations, and schedules. Military (joint service) agreements, defense training, materials pertaining to passing of bill by U.S. House of Representatives, and awards are among the official documents and papers. Many of these personal papers have a classification or administrative marking that prevents its automatic release, in part or in whole, to the public.