Major George E. Preddy

preddy.jpg (10939 bytes)Major George Preddy, of the 352nd Fighter Group, was born February 5, 1919.  A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, he was a top AAC ace credited with 26.83 air-to-air victories and five planes destroyed by strafing. He shot down six of his victims in a single mission on August 6, 1944.

Major Preddy flew P-40 Warhawks with the 9th FS/49th FG in defense of northern Australia. He was seriously injured during a practice interception mission when another a/c  collided with his P-40. He was sent to back to the USA for recuperation. He was later assigned to the 487th FS/352nd FG and became Sq. Operations Officer in March, 1944. He was promoted to Major and assumed command of the 328th FS.

He was killed on Christmas Day of 1944 when, while flying at tree-top level inside American lines over Europe, his P-51 -- Cripes A'Mighty -- was mistaken for an enemy plane and was shot down by US antiaircraft gunners.

Decorations: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with OLC, Distinguished Flying Cross with OLC, Air Medal with 7 OLC, Purple Heart, posthumous, Belgian Croix de Guerre, posthumous

preddy01.jpg (11390 bytes)Preddy's plane with ground crew

 

 

preddy02.jpg (9698 bytes)

For a brief history of the 352nd Fighter Group click here

 

                      

    Aces of the 352nd Fighter Group

  1. George E Preddy - 26.83
  2. John C Meyer - 24.00
  3. John F Thornell - 17.25
  4. William Whisner - 15.5
  5. Donald Bryan - 13,33
  6. Glennon Moran - 13.00
  7. William T Halton - 10.50
  8. Ray Littge - 10.50
  9. Steven Andrew - 9.00
  10. Charles Cesky - 8.50
  11. Carl Luksic - 8.50
  12. Sanford Moats - 8.50
  13. Virgil Meroney - 9.00
  14. Everett Stewart - 7.83
  15. Frank Cutler - 7.50
  16. Walter Starck - 7.00
  17. C. O. Johnson - 7.00
  18. Willie O Jackson - 7.00
  19. Francis Horne - 5.50
  20. Edwin Heller - 5.50
  21. Alex Sears - 5.00
  22. Ernest O Bostrom - 5.00
  23. Duerr Schuh - 5.00
  24. William J Stangel - 5.00
  25. Joe Mason - 5.00

 

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