Retired Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, who for many years was known as "America's Greatest Living Ace," has died, his daughter said Friday.

Gabreski, who recorded 37 1/2 kills as a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War, died Thursday at a hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home in Dix Hills, on Long Island, said Frances Philipps. He had just celebrated his 83rd birthday on Monday, she said. "His quiet, self-deprecating personality masked the spirit of an American fighter pilot," Gov. George Pataki said in a statement. "Through his aerial victories he created a legacy of excellence as a military leader and left a nation far stronger and far better prepared to defend its freedoms. This valiant man will be missed, but his place in our American heritage will never fade."

Gabreski began taking flying lessons as a pre-med student at the University of Notre Dame. He joined the Army Air Corps and earned his wings in 1941. Throughout the war, Gabreski tallied a successful string of "kills" that eventually totaled a record 31. He added 6 1/2 more kills during the Korean War, his daughter said.

Gabreski was shot down over Europe and spent the last eight months of the war in a German prisoner of war camp.

"He was a very dedicated individual who strived to perform at his very best ability at all times," said fellow fighter pilot Jerry Johnson, who knew Gabreski for 60 years.

In a telephone interview from his home in Florida, Johnson explained that he had been shot down and was already in a POW camp when Gabreski arrived. Allied prisoners had hidden a tiny crystal radio and heard the news over the BBC that Gabreski had been shot down.

"I was hoping I would see him alive," Johnson said, but confessed that seeing him come into the POW camp one day was hardly a happy reunion. "I liked him too much to say 'I'm glad to see you,"' he said.

"He recognized that he was probably not the best pilot and not the best shot," Johnson said. "But he tried to overcome that by being very aggressive and really determined to seek out the enemy."

After WWII, Gabreski spent several years in flight testing and in command of fighter units before being assigned as commander of the 51st Fighter Wing. He helped develop tactics for jet fighters and shot down 6 1/2 MiG-15s between July 1951 and April 1952.

After his military career, he worked in the aviation industry and later served as president of the Long Island Rail Road.

Gabreski wrote about his military career in his autobiography, "Gabby, A Fighter Pilot's Life."

A member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, an airport in Westhampton Beach on eastern Long Island bears his name. He also was the honorary squadron commander of the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale.

"Col. Francis Gabreski was an inspiration to me personally and a driving force behind this museum," said museum president Jeff Clyman.

"He was a great family man, father, and grandfather," his daughter said. "His led his life by three guidelines: God, country and family."

In addition to Philipps, Gabreski is survived by five other daughters and three sons, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A wake was scheduled for Tuesday at the Mangano Funeral Home in Deer Park; a full military funeral will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Dix Hills, with burial at Calverton National Cemetery.