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P-51B Mustang flown by Major George Preddy of the 352nd FG

"The Mouse's B" Oil on Canvas 20" x 34" ©Troy White SOLD

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"Cripes 'A Mighty" P-51B HO-P 42-106451 was the personal mount of Major George E. Preddy Jr. of of the 487th FS, 352nd FG in the spring of 1944. Major Preddy scored 5.83 of his total of 26.83 air-to-air victories in this aircraft. Preddy flew this aircraft from April 1944 until shortly after D-Day. He scored his last victory in this aircraft, an Me 109G, on June 12, 1944 on a mission to Rennes, France. It is this mission that is depicted in the painting "The Mouse's B". The title being derived from George's high school nick-name "Mouse". Until recently no photos of the port side of 42-106451 showing the nose art and Major Preddy's final tally with this aircraft had been located so no one really knew what it looked like.

Recently 352nd FG historian and veteran pilot Bob "Punchy" Powell was loaned the scrapbook of the late Lt. Carl Taffel who flew with the 487th FS arriving during the D-Day period. His first ship was old Cripes 2nd! The tail code had been changed to the letter "R" by simply adding a leg to the letter "P". The lower kill marks of 8 are the same as they appear on Preddy's Mustang in a PR photo that was taken in April of 1944. Subsequent victories that were scored by George in this aircraft were added in the style of his next and most famous aircraft, P-51D Cripes A' Mighty 3rd, white hollow crosses on the blue field, right in front of the canopy. The Mustang had been modified with a Malcolm hood and a whip antenna.

Sam Sox 352nd FG Historian and Photo Archivist had searched high and low

for photos showing the port side of this aircraft for over 33 years.

The long lost photos are seen below.

Two views of P-51B HO-R 42-106451 shortly after being assigned to Lt. Tafel. The 3/4 rear view of the port side of 42-106451 shows how the invasion stripes were painted right over the squadron code and radio call sign. The call sign (P) was simply re-painted on the tail.

Above: Publicity photo of George in his P-51B HO-P 42-106451 with Crew Chief Lew Lunn taken mid-April 1944. Two of the victory crosses signify ground victories. Note that this photo was taken before the installation of the Malcolm hood which afforded pilots better all around visibility. George Preddy (487th squadron), Howard McClatchy (96th Bomb Group), and Pappy Gignac (486th squadron) at the "Red Garter" party thrown at the Snetterton Heath bomber base. The three men were flight school mates at Darr Aerotech in 1941. Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox. Used with permission.

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