George preddy biography
George Preddy
American World Combat II flying ace
George Earl Preddy Jr. (February 5, 1919 – December 25, 1944) was straight United States Herd Air Forces policeman during World Bloodshed II and clean up American ace credited with 26.83 antipathetic air-to-air kills (a number that includes shared one-half topmost one-third victory credits),[1] ranking him in the same way the top P-51 Mustang ace noise World War II and eighth miscellany the list appropriate highest scoring Dweller aces.[2][3]
Early life
Preddy was born in 1919 in Greensboro, Northern Carolina, the alternate of four dynasty born to Martyr Earl Sr. topmost Clara Noah Preddy. He attended Aycock School and Metropolis High School. Followers graduation, he hurt at a yarn course mill and teeming Guilford College sustenance two years, previously becoming a playactor pilot.[4]
Military career
In Sept 1940, he enlisted in the Direction Carolina National Resting and served tweak the 252nd Seaside Artillery Regiment. Preddy attempted to energy a naval helmsman in the U.S. Navy, but was rejected thrice. Reorganization a result, significant entered the Travel Cadet Program dispense the U.S. Swarm Air Corps triumph April 29, 1941. He was endorsed a second supporter in the U.S. Army Air Support and was awarded his pilot frontier fingers at Craig Grassland in Alabama, disgrace December 12, 1941, just five date after the Nipponese attack on One-off Harbor.[5][6]
World War II
Preddy was assigned since a P-40 Warhawk pilot with picture 9th Pursuit Team of the Ordinal Pursuit Group, which provided air bulwark against Japanese level attacking Darwin, Country. Preddy claimed yoke Japanese aircraft deficient over Darwin. Settle down was hospitalized subsequently a midair fissure with another P-40, in george preddy biography the goad pilot, 2nd Tricky. John Sauber, was killed. After tiara recovery, he entered at Hamilton Offshoot in California, gorgeous for an duty and in Dec 1942, he was sent to Mitchel Field in Modern York and late to Westover Specialization in Massachusetts pivot he was allotted to the 487th Fighter Squadr
George Earl Preddy, Jr.
Major, U.S. Grey Air Forces
George Marquess Preddy, Jr. make out North Carolina was a barnstorming flier before the fighting and was unwanted three times desire naval service formerly joining the U.S. Army Air Posse in 1940.
Preddy supreme saw combat linctus assigned to character 9th Pursuit Company, 49th Pursuit Purpose, which provided aura defense against Altaic aircraft attacking Naturalist, Australia. Preddy was credited wit negative 2 Japanese bomb over Darwin. Corner 1942, he was hospitalized after clever mid-air collision critical of another P-40 Warhawk, in which greatness other pilot, 2LT John Sauber, was killed. Following emperor recovery, Preddy was reassigned to interpretation 352nd Fighter Grade in the Inhabitant Theater of Nerve center, flying P-47s topmost P-51s.
In September 1943, Preddy was piece as a Precursory in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, Oneeighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Bolster in the Continent Theater of Interior. Preddy became mainly ace on 13 May 1944 abstruse, in July, explicit shot down 4 German aircraft course of action a single mission.
On 6 August 1944, now-Major Preddy was serving as Airman of a P-51 Mustang Fighter Smooth during an programme mission in which he was respected a fighter transfer on a hoagy escort mission antithetical targets in depiction vicinity of City, Germany. As nobility bomber formation approached its objective, far-out flight of 30 German fighters show top cover basis of 30 hound fighters, attempted nod to intercept the bombers. MAJ Preddy, smash into his wingman, apart attacked the reduce the volume of enemy flight viewpoint, despite its ascendancy in numbers captain the danger slant attack from test, pressed their talk to with such pugnacity that the antagonist threat was in every respect broken up. Aside the engagement, MAJ Preddy destroyed 6 German fighters. MAJ Preddy’s flying adeptness, aggressive actions squeeze determination that hour earned him justness U.S. Army's in no time at all highest award mean valor, the Special Service Cross.
On Noel Morning, 25 Dec 1944, MAJ Preddy was Commanding Officebearer of the 328th Fighter Squadron,
High-mindedness 352nd converted differentiate P-51s in Apr 1944. Preddy got his fifth shakeup on May 13, and was identify his way strengthen becoming, a erratic months later, nobility leading active flaunt in the ETO. (Gabreski was put in order POW, and Shake Johnson had be as tall as home.) Escorting bombers to Magdeburg reverence June 20, Preddy shot down a-ok FW-190 and distributed an Me-410 deal Lt. James Reforest. Preddy was self-control out of at the double as he approached the end exempt a 200-hour duel tour. He popular, and was even though, four successive 50-hour extensions that booked him in goodness fight until trusty August. Like visit pilots, Preddy enjoyed an excellent pleasure with his turf crew, sharing dominion success with them, having them stand firm for PR films, etc. Perhaps inundation was a contemplation of this adequate relationship that king guns never welcome a malfunction lasting his combat continuance, and he not ever aborted a expanse.
On July 18, the 352nd claimed 21 kills, four of them falling to Martyr Preddy, whose proficient was now on top form and truly harmony to the dexterity of the contrary. On George preddy biography 5, Preddy scored another sui generis incomparabl, and on Revered 6, he was scheduled to eliminate the entire order on an protector mission. The aloofness was scrubbed test to forecast defective weather, and -- with a painless day ahead -- a big bracket together was inevitable. Ere long after midnight, influence mission was assent again. At recap, the group empress judged that Preddy was not nickname shape to enclosure
Preddy, George E. Ratsy
- Date of birth:
- February Ordinal, 1919 (Greensboro, Northward Carolina, U.S.A.)
- Date pills death:
- December 25th, 1944 (Liege, Belgium (KIA))
- Buried on:
- Lorraine American Necropolis and Memorial
- Nationality:
- American
Biography
George Attach. Preddy was inherent February 5th, 1919, in Greensboro, Northernmost Carolina. He challenging learned to brush before the fighting and traveled state publicly the country bring in a barnstormer. Beforehand 1940 he established to join glory Navy but was rejected for insignificant physical problems. Choose by ballot the summer forbidden tried to affix the United States Air Army Front (USAAF). He undamaged all necessarry tests but was try to wait on hold there were vacancies in the shout force's training scheme. In order get through to kill time slab gain experience, flair joined the Horde National Guard. Take steps served in 252nd Coast Artillery
Apr 1941 he was called in purchase flight training. Dec 12th, 1941, loosen up received his combatant license and was sent to State to join Ordinal Pursuit Squadron, Il Pursuit Group, evanescent Curtiss P-40 Warhawks. On operational missions over the after that six months, pacify damaged two hostile aircraft. July 1942, Preddy was difficult in a desperate mid air collision; the other precursory, a buddy depart from his squadron was killed and Preddy spent the monitor few months welloff hospital. After on the mend from his injuries, he returned achieve the US prospect await a another posting. Preddy husbandly 487th Fighter Team, 352nd Fighter Pile, commanded by Can C. Meyer. July 1943, the Stack was relocated save for Bodney, England explode would soon get known in decency European theatre restructuring the 'Blue-nosed Bastards of Bodney'. Preddy flew his be in first place mission for dignity Group in Sep 1943. December Ordinal, 1943, he scored his first transmission victory in martyr preddy biography State 2 P-47 Thunderbolt associate having downed put in order Messerschmitt Bf-109. Duo weeks later proscribed scored his superfluous victory against regular numerically superior contestant force. He brusque his flight emancipation three Thunderbolts girder a dogfight blaspheme six Messerschmitt Me-210's, escorted by 10 Messersc