Major George Preddy & Cripes A'Mighty 3rd in action with the 352nd FG
"American Patrol" Oil on Canvas, 34" x 46" ©1999 Troy White
Owned by the PMF (Preddy Memorial Foundation, this painting is now part of
the permanent PMF Display at the
Carolinas Aviation Museum located at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
in North Carolina
Major George E. Preddy, Jr. of the 487th FS, 352nd FG turns his attention towards a Bf-109G-6 from 1./JG 300 FG as it streaks through a formation of B-17 bombers from the 100th BG while Preddy flies his P-51D-5NA Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd". This action took place on 29 July 1944 during 8th AF mission #503 to the Halle-Leuna Synthetic Oil Refineries near Merseberg, Germany. Preddy, who would go on to be the world’s top scoring P-51 Mustang Ace, was credited with the destruction of one Bf-109 on this date. The 352nd FG, based at Bodney, England, claimed a total of 8 Bf-109s and 1 Fw-190 during this Merseberg mission.
Joe Noah, founder of the Preddy Memorial Foundation and first cousin to George Preddy and his younger brother Bill, commissioned Troy White to create the book jacket art for the hardcover version of the book George Preddy: Top Mustang Ace, co-authored by Samuel L. Sox, Jr. and Noah. Troy answered with "American Patrol", portraying Preddy’s most well known Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd" on his 29 July 1944 mission to Merseberg, Germany.
The 100th BG, who made its home in Thorpe Abbotts, England, lost 8 B-17s on the 29 July mission. Only 1 of the 6 bombers of the low squadron of its lead group came back from the day’s long journey. Lost were "Buffalo Gal" with five of its crew surviving after bailing out, and "Sparky" from which only tail gunner Donald Beasley survived. B-17 42-31903 had four surviving crewmen, only engineer Robert Fife survived from B-17 42-107211, and B-17 43-37655 had four surviving crewmembers. All nine men aboard "Regal Eagle", the high squadron lead, survived by bailing out. Of the 2 ships lost from 100th’s "B" group, one, B-17 42-102667, exploded when hit by flak immediately after dropping its payload. Amazingly, the entire crew managed to bail out before the bomber blew apart. The eighth of the group’s losses for the day was "She Hasta", who dropping from the formation due to heavy damage, was attacked by a jet (probably an Me 163 Rocket Fighter) and had to be ditched in the North Sea. Eight of her nine men survived to reach the shore. All surviving members of the eight downed bombers were taken prisoners of war.
The accurate flak plus Luftwaffe fighters attacking at staffel strength or greater added up to disaster for bomber formations penetrating the area. The swift German fighters took no mercy on wounded B-17s, pouncing on any sitting-duck stragglers to finish them off. The 100th Bomb Group’s loss accounted for slightly more than half of the 15 American bombers that fell at the hands of the Germans on that Merseberg mission. Unfortunately, this devastating loss was nothing new to the group who earned the nickname "The Bloody 100th" in reference to their knack for losing large numbers of B-17s on a single mission.
All told, the 352nd FG claimed a total of 8 Me 109s and 1 Fw 190 on this Merseberg mission while losing one of their own P-51s. The 487th FS accounted for the destruction of 4 of the Me 109s with victories by Preddy, Lt. Sanford Moats, 2nd Lt. Alex Sears, and Capt. Charles Palmer. One more Messerschmitt fell to the guns of Lt. Charles Bennett of the 328th FS, and his squadron mate Lt. Charles Cesky downed the Fw 190. Maj. Gustav Lundquist of the 486th FS claimed the final 2 Me 109s despite his accounting for the one lost P-51 when the Mustang he piloted was shot down in enemy territory rendering him a POW for the remainder of the war.
Preddy ranks as the world's top scoring P-51 Ace, claiming 24 in Mustangs out of his total score of 27 aerial and 5 ground victories. "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" likewise is the world’s highest scoring P-51. A total of 24 enemy aircraft fell to its guns before it was shot down on 16 April 1945.
"American Patrol" is available as a signed & numbered limited edition print.
Overall print size: 22" x 28". Edition Size: 500 @ $135 each & 50 Artist Proofs @ $300 each SOLD OUT!
Each print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and an extensive background story.
For additional information on Limited Edition Prints click here. To place an order click here.
Major Preddy's most famous Mustang "Cripes A'Mighty 3rd" showing its full scoreboard of white crosses against the blue nose. Photo copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox . Used with permission.
"Bailout!"
Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" © 2007 Troy White
"We went below the clouds and came out on the deck crossing the French coast somewhere north of Calais. Suddenly, a concentrated barrage of flak opened up. I began kicking the ship around but felt hits. She began smoking but didn't loose power so I climbed to 5,000 feet and gave a Mayday. Shortly afterwards my engine cut out. I bailed out at 2,000 feet. A P-47 spotted me and I was picked up from the drink by a Walrus. CLAIM: 1FW 190 Destroyed" George Preddy. Full story
This image is also available as an open edition canvas print Click Here
"Major George E. Preddy Jr."
Oil on Canvas, 48" x 36" © 2004 Troy White
In 2004 Preddy Memorial Foundation commissioned Troy to paint this portrait of George. It now hangs on display at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in in George's home state of North Carolina.
Major George
E. Preddy Jr. is available as a signed & numbered
limited edition print. Overall print size: 28" x 22".
Edition Size:
100 @ $135 each. 10 Artist Proofs @ $300 each. 6 specially remarqued prints @
$350 each.
For additional information on Limited Edition Prints click here. To place an order click here.
"Second to None"
© 2001 Troy White, Oil Canvas, 34" x 46"
Continuing to tally more kills as the war raged on, Preddy scored an incredible six aerial victories on 6 August 1944. Following a 30-day leave soon thereafter, during which he had the opportunity to fly mock combat with younger brother Bill, Major Preddy returned to the 352nd FG to take command of the 328th squadron There he would score two more victories flying from Bodney, this time in his brand new P-51D 44-14906 "Cripes A' Mighty". His first victory came during the epic air battle November 2, 1944 while he lead the 328th to a new 8th Air Force record for enemy aircraft destroyed in a single mission. During during this escort mission to Merseberg, Germany his squadron destroyed 25 aircraft in the air in about 20 minutes. In "Second To None" Major Preddy is seen as he prepares to shoot down an Me 109 from JG 27. According to George "He went down leaving a long column of white smoke. A P-51 from another group went in behind him and the enemy aircraft continued on down crashing into the ground," On the 21st of November George scored a confirmed victory, a probable over another and damaged a third Focke Wulf 190 when the 8th Air Force again paid a visit to Merseberg.
Two photos of Major Preddy's last Mustang "Cripes A' Mighty". Upon taking command of the 328th FS in the fall of 1944 George was assigned this aircraft. The photos were taken at Bodney before the November 2, 1944 mission. He scored the remainder of his victories in "Cripes A' Mighty" and was flying this aircraft when he was killed on Christmas Day. Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox . Used with permission.
"Cripes A' Mighty"
Acrylic
on Canvas, 50" x 68" © 1994 Troy White
Owned by the PMF, this painting is now part of
the permanent PMF Display at the
Carolinas Aviation Museum located at the Douglas International
Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina
Major George E. Preddy, Top Mustang Ace of all time, flies over the Ardennes Forest in December of 1944. Preddy finished the war with 27.83 victories, 24 were scores with the P-51 Mustang. On 23 December 1944 the 352nd FG moved to an advanced base at Asch, Belgium to assist the 9th Air Force in the Battle of the Bulge. On Christmas Day 1944 after scoring what would sadly be his final two victories, Preddy was shot down and killed by American anti-aircraft fire while pursing an Fw 190 at low level. At the time of his death, George Preddy was the top American Ace flying operations in the ETO.
Pilots Ray Mitchell and Bobby Dodd, both of whom flew with the 328th FS of the 352nd FG under George Preddy’s command, attended the May 8, 1999 PMF symposium. Each told a fond memory he has of his squadron leader. Bobby recalled that on the day he was promoted from second to first lieutenant, upon meeting up with George Preddy that evening Preddy congratulated Dodd on his promotion and offered to buy him a beer in honour of the occasion. He went on to explain that Preddy, being Dodd’s commanding officer, had initiated his promotion in the first place, so it was just exemplary of George’s gallant and modest nature to treat the event as something that had just occurred on its own. Ray Mitchell shared that the last thing George, who he a called a "fine fellow who was always concerned about his flight and his men", said before getting into his cockpit on Christmas day 1944 was "Preddy’s going hunting today" and pulled up his pants leg to show off his red socks.
"Alles Schlaft" © 1999 Troy White, Oil on Canvas, 27" x 48" features Fw. Fritz Koal Left: and Fw. Karl-Heinz Schroder of II./JG 27 as they cruise across the cold December sky in 1944. Koal in Yellow 14 is flying a Bf 109G-10 (WNr.490180) and is shown in a formal portrait above. Schroder in Yellow 9 is flying a Bf 109G-14 (WNr.785756). On Christmas Day 1944 both men took off from their base at Hopsten, Germany just after 11:00 with the rest of II./ JG 27. Under the leadership of Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Herbert Kutscha II Gruppe headed for St. Vith to support ground troops involved with the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge). At about noon the Gruppe became involved in a large air battle over the Ahr Valley. The battle took place between the towns of Adenau and Bad Neuenahr near the famous Nurburgring Formula 1 race course. Before it was over eight Bf 109s from II./JG 27 would litter the landscape below.
Meanwhile Koal and Schroder were forced to bale out when they were shot down over Adenau. Schroder was only slightly wounded and remained on operations with 6 Staffel.
Koal was seriously wounded and did not return to his unit until March,1945. In April he added three more victories to the pair of P-51s and P-47 that he scored on September 27, 1944. His sixth confirmed victory, a P-47 was scored on April 16 , 1945. On April 30, 1945 the last six Bf-109s of 6 Staffel, JG 27 flew to Leck AFB (a small base in northern Germany near Denmark) and surrendered. There WWII ended for Feldwebel Fritz Koal.
Both Koal and Schroder were the last two victories scored by Maj. George Preddy. After dispatching Koal and Schroder, Preddy and his wingman Lt. James Cartee were joined by Lt. James Bouchier of the 479th FG. George spotted an Fw190D on the deck and the three dove after it. Before Preddy could shoot the German down both Preddy and Bouchier were shot down by American anti-aircraft fire. Preddy was killed but Bouchier managed to bail out safely.
Preddy Memorial Foundation
In 1993 Joe Noah and his wife, Betty, founded the Preddy Memorial Foundation to ensure that Noah’s first cousins, Major George E. Preddy, Jr. and First Lieutenant William R. Preddy, as well as their comrades at arms, will continue to be honoured for their significant contributions to victory during World War II.
Lt. Bill Preddy of the 339th FG photographed with George's buddy Bill Whisner during a visit to the 352nd FG base at Chievres, Belgium in 1945 . On the right, Bill poses with a 339th Mustang. Bill was shot down while strafing an airfield in Czechoslovakia on April 17, 1945. He might have survived but died of his wounds two or three days later because he did not get medical attention. Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox . Used with permission.
Preddy's Biography
Joe Noah started work on the beginnings of the book that was to become George Preddy: Top Mustang Ace in 1955 while with the Air Force. Samuel L. Sox, Jr., a former resident of Greensboro, NC, joined with Joe Noah in 1967 in pursuing the documentation of the careers of the Greensboro native Preddy brothers. The resulting book is the story of America’s top Mustang Ace, Maj. George E. Preddy who was the epitome of a charming southern gentleman in addition to being a war hero. Authors Noah and Sox follow Preddy’s life from his pre-war barnstorming days in North Carolina, across the Pacific where he flew P-40s against the Japanese, and eventually to the Eighth Air Force where he would distinguish himself in aerial combat flying P-47s and later P-51s. With 23.83 victories while flying the P-51 Mustang, Preddy became the world’s top scoring Mustang Ace.
Sketch for "Cripes A'Mighty" by Troy White
The admiration that was felt for George Preddy by his comrades is exemplified in the words of the late General John C. Meyer:
"I have yet to meet a man of such single-minded and dedicated purpose, of such intense desire to excel, not for himself but for his country. George Preddy was...just the greatest fighter pilot who ever squinted through a gun sight; he was the complete fighter pilot."
Check out the article by Susan Ward about George's time in Australia Flying P-40's in Darwin
For further information on The Preddy Memorial Foundation and instructions on how to join the non-profit organization, please write to:
The Preddy Memorial Foundation
C/o Greensboro Historical Museum
130 Summit Ave
Greensboro, NC 27401.
All artwork represented on the pages of this website is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the knowledge, permission and express written consent of the artist Troy White.All text, photographs and graphics on the pages of this website, except where otherwise noted, are copyrighted by Stardust Studios. No copyrighted material appearing on this website may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic or printed, without the knowledge, permission and express written consent Troy White, Stardust Studios.
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