The story of Major George E. Preddy, the most successful P-51 Mustang Pilot of all time that was Killed In Action in a Tragic Case of Friendly Fire on Christmas Day 1944

The story of Major George E. Preddy, the most successful P-51 Mustang Pilot of all time that was Killed In Action in a Tragic Case of Friendly Fire on Christmas Day 1944

By Dario Leone
Apr 18 2022
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With a final official score of 26.833 aerial victories, Major George E. Preddy remains the most successful P-51 Mustang pilot of all time.

The awesome artwork in this post was painted by Wade Meyers (be sure to visit his site to see his beautiful paintings) and shows 25-year-old Major George E. Preddy, Jr. cruising just over the clouds in his CRIPES A’ MIGHTY 3rd, circa late June 1944.

Preddy, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, first flew in the South Pacific area of operations before returning to the US and eventual assignment to the England-bound 352nd Fighter Group.

Preddy thrived with the “Bluenosers” while flying the P-47 and P-51. While slight of build, his experience, example, and leadership commanded respect from his fellow pilots, including his legendary squadron commander, Lt. Col. John C. Meyer, who later rose to four-star rank as commander of the Strategic Air Command. Meyer, himself a 26-victory WWII ace, said of his friend, “George Preddy was the greatest fighter pilot who ever squinted through a gunsight; he was the complete fighter pilot.”

The story of Major George E. Preddy, the most successful P-51 Mustang Pilot of all time that was Killed In Action in a Tragic Case of Friendly Fire on Christmas Day 1944
Major George E. Preddy Jr. of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, hold up hands for six enemy aircraft he shot down on 6 August 1944 mission. This was a record number of victories for a single pilot in one mission.

Soon after downing six Bf 109s in one mission on August 6th, an action for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross, George returned to the US for home leave until mid-October. Returning to the Bluenosers, Preddy was hand-picked to assume command of the 328th Fighter Squadron, which had a bit of a morale problem since they were the lowest-scoring squadron in the 352nd and couldn’t seem to find a groove. Preddy didn’t say too much to his new squadron other than a short talk to clarify why there were there: “To shoot down the Hun.” Following his lead, the 328th went on to a record-setting run of victories.

Maj. Preddy was killed in action on Christmas Day 1944 in a tragic case of friendly fire. After shooting down two Bf 109s, Preddy was leading two other Mustangs when they were vectored near Liège, where enemy aircraft had been sighted. While chasing a lone Fw 190D at treetop level at high speed in the Hurtgen Forest area, the Mustangs suddenly appeared over a clearing and immediately received intense ground fire from the quad .50s of at least one of the American mobile anti-aircraft gun emplacements in the area. The Mustangs had been assured that all local units had been notified to stand down so their low-level chase of the German fighter could continue. Unfortunately, due to apparent communications difficulties the word was indeed not spread to all the gun crews, and all three P-51s were hit with heavy and accurate fire.

The story of Major George E. Preddy, the most successful P-51 Mustang Pilot of all time that was Killed In Action in a Tragic Case of Friendly Fire on Christmas Day 1944
This beautiful artwork is named “CLOUD SURFING” and is available from Wade Meyers Studios – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Preddy’s plane was severely damaged and he immediately chandelled sharply up to his left, popped the canopy, and possibly received another accurate burst of ground fire as he pulled up. As the plane rolled inverted and nosed over, Preddy was seen to bail out at just a few hundred feet. Due to the low altitude, injury, equipment malfunction or some combination of the three, his chute did not open in time.

With a final official score of 26.833 aerial victories (23 1/3 in the Mustang, plus 3 Probables and 4 Damaged, with 5 destroyed on the ground), Preddy remains the most successful P-51 pilot of all time. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross (now Air Force Cross), Distinguished Flying Cross with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC), Silver Star with OLC, Air Medal with 7 OLCs, Purple Heart, and Belgian Croix de Guerre.

P-51D Mustang print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET  YOURS. P-51D Mustang “Dorrie R” – 44-63422 / 134, 15th FG, 78th FS “Bushmasters” – 1945

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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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