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Major Spaatz would later become Chief Commander of the U.S. Air Force. Incidentally the Major, born on June 28, 1891, was christened Carl Andrew Spatz.  He added another "a" and changed the name to Spaatz because he didn't like being called "Spats".  At West Point he picked up the nickname "Tooey", with which he seemed to be content. 
Gabby's First Flight  
The Limerick Airport was licensed as a commercial airport on October 4, 1933. This meant that pilots could fly passengers in and out of the airport for a fee. That was the year the tri-motor Ford airplane flown by the late Lonny Evans of Pittsburgh, landed in Limerick to "hop" passengers.  In those days pilots like Evans were called "barnstormers". Gabby borrowed money from one of his sisters and took his first airplane ride, a flight which lasted about ten minutes.  It was a flight he would never forget. 
After that he spent most of his free time at the airport, watching planes fly.  One day Flight Instructor Wesley B. Nyce asked him if he would like to go for a ride.  Gabby didn't wait for a second invitation and he was thrilled when he was allowed to handle the controls. 
He continued to spend time at the airport, doing anything and everything just to get money for another plane ride.  He moved planes in and out of the hangars, filled the gas tanks, and anything else that needed to be done.  As soon as he earned enough money he was up in the air again. Gabby worked on the family farm and also did part-time roof and sheet metal work for J. B. March, Inc.  On October 9, 1939 he accepted full-time employment as a machine operator at Spicer Manufacturing Company, later known as Dana Corporation. 
The U.S.  Army Calls  
December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, changed many lives, including Gabby's.  On June 8, 1942 he was summoned to Philadelphia to undergo testing to enter the U.S. Army.  He passed with flying colors and went on to Fort Meade, Maryland to await orders. 
The Army agreed to his request for service in the Air Force and Gabby was off to Kessler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi for nine weeks of basic training. Living quarters were in a hot and sandy tent city, shared by a large number of snakes.  But Gabby survived and went from there to Buckley Field, Colorado, where be was assigned to Armament School for another nine-week period.  There he learned about 50-caliber machine guns, rockets, cannons and how to repair and install them in fighter planes.