Goto Warbirds Resource Group Main Page
Send us comments
Back to main USAAF index
Search this site
back to USAAF Legends - 352nd FG Directory




Last Wartime rank: Major

Unit(s):
9th FS/49th FG/5th AF/SWPA
O.O., 487th FS/352nd FG/8th AF/ETO
C.O., 328th FS/352nd FG/8th AF/ETO

Theatre(s): SWPA/ETO

Born:
February 5, 1919
Greensboro, North Carolina

Killed in Action:
December 25, 1944

Victories:
2 Air-Damaged (49th FG)

26.83 Air, 5 Strafing in 143 Sorties
(352nd FG only)
(25 Personal Air + 4 Shared Air victories)

Decorations:
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star with OLC
Distinguished Flying Cross with 8 OLC
Air Medal with 7 OLC
Purple Heart, Posthumous
Belgian Croix de Guerre, Posthumous

Crew: 487th Fighter Squadron Crew
-Crew Chief: S/Sgt. Lew Lunn
-Asst. C/C: Cpl. J. "Red" McVay
-Arm. Sgt.: M.G. "Moe" Kuhanek

Assigned Combat Aircraft:
P-40E, Sq. #85, "TARHEEL"

P-47D-5-RE, HO*P
SN: 42-8500
"Cripes A'Mighty"

P-51B-10-NA, HO*P
SN: 42-106451
"Cripes A'Mighty 2nd"

P-51D-5-NA, HO*P
SN: 44-13321
"Cripes A'Mighty 3rd"

P-51D-15-NA, PE*P (bar)
SN: 44-14906
"Cripes A'Mighty"


SERVICE:
Flew P-40 Warhawks with the 9th FS/49th FG in defense of northern Australia. Seriously injured during a practice interception mission when another a/c collided with Preddy's P-40 and he was sent to USA for recuperation. Later assigned to the 487th FS/352nd FG and became Sq. Operations Officer Mar. 1944. Later promoted to Major and assumed command of the 328th FS. KIA by "friendly fire" on Christmas Day, 1944.

QUOTE/STORY:

"Had my first real airplane ride today. Hal Foster took me to Danville with him in his little '33 Aeronca.
It took us 30 minutes to make the trip. I see now how great the airplane is.
That trip was the most wonderful experience I ever had.
I must become an aviator." George Preddy, Nov. 13, 1938

"George Preddy was the greatest fighter pilot who ever
squinted through a gunsight; he was the complete fighter
pilot." John C. Meyer

NOTES:
Top Mustang Air Ace - 23.83 air victories in the P-51.
All but 1.5 Me 410 destroyers and 2.5 Ju 88 destroyers were victories against single-engined Bf 109 and Fw 190 fighters.
Six Bf 109 air kills in one sortie of August 6, 1944 plus two or more victories respectively on four other sorties

   

Sources:
352nd Fighter Group Association