This was Major.George Earl "Ratsy" Preddy Jr's second Mustang, but the third aircraft to bear the name that would become the mount of the of the top ranked Mustang Ace of WW2.

Major. George Preddy was assigned P-51D-5-NA, SN: 44-13321 in June 44" and was to fly her until August 44". And within this short period of time, Major. Preddy and Mustang 44-13321 were to become a formidable combination. In fact a combination unsurpassed in WW2. At the time of her lose in April 45", Mustang 44-13321 had a total of 18.5 aerial and 9 ground victories to her credit. This includes 4 ground victories scored by Col. John C. Meyer on 10 September 1944. Col. Meyer himself would go on to finish the war as the second highest ranked Mustang ace behind Major. Preddy. Although Col. Meyer's combined overall victories would surpass those of Preddy. Only aerial victories would be ultimately chosen to rank a pilot as an "Ace". And on this count, Major. Preddy ranks No.1 in the P-51 Mustang. More aerial victories were scored in P-51 SN: 44-13321, than ANY other Mustang serving in WWII. This was due largely to the great pride George's ground crew, S/Sgt. Lew Lunn, Cpl. Joseph J. "Red" McVay, and armourer Sgt. M. G. Kuhaneck had for the Mustang and its pilot, as this particular Mustang NEVER suffered a mechanical failure OR gun jam in its long combat service, in fact, probably the longest combat service career of any Mustang of WW2 serving continuously for more than 10 months.! And of course a pilot who had "The Right Stuff".

These fact's came about after George was assigned a new Mustang, P-51D-15-NA, SN:44-14906 in October 44", after returning from leave in the States. This aircraft was to be named "CRIPES A` MIGHTY", but no continual number added and marked HO-P. "CRIPES A` MIGHTY 3rd" was to carry on in service under a new name, "The Margaret's" marked HO-N and flown by a number of pilots, including Capt. Henry M. Stewart, Lt. Francis C. Reading, Capt. Marion J. "Red Dog" Nutter, Lt. Walter Padden, Lt. Raymond H. Littge and Col. John C. Meyer before being eventually brought down killing its last pilot, Lt. Walter Padden while strafing the airbase at Gonecker on the 16th April 45. Lt. Padden was said to of scored 2 ground victories during this action before being shot down by AA guns. But these were never officially recognised and so CAM3rd missed out on 2 additional ground victories. By the time of its demise, CAM3rd had again had a change of name, from "The Margaret's" to "Sexshunate".

Meyer's 4 ground victories were the last 4 victories to be scored in her under the name of "CRIPES A` MIGHTY 3rd" before being reassigned to Capt. Henry M. Stewart and named "The Margaret's". The August 6th 44 mission (the mission on which George shot down 6 Me-109`s in less than 5mins!) was the last time George flew "CRIPES A` MIGHTY 3rd" into combat. During the following days meeting with an 8th Fighter Command press unit, Preddy put on aerial display for the cameras but not flying his now famous CAM3rd. She had not been fully serviced since the day before's action, and so not flown by Preddy during the display. Though a short sequence of George taxing CAM3rd was edited into the film to give the impression he had just landed. It is to be noted that this is NOT the same aircraft that Capt. Stewart flew during the Y-29 action. Capt. Stewart had already exchanged CAM3rd in November ( passing it on to Capt. Marion J. "Red Dog" Nutter who renamed her "Sexshunate".) for a newer aircraft, and subsequently again before the action of the 1st Jan 45". Later to known as "The Legend of Y-29". And is believed to of been flying aircraft serial numbered SN:44-14716 at the time of and during this action.

George flew 4 aircraft baring the name "Cripes A` Mighty". A saying George probably picked up while serving with the 9th Pursuit Squadron-49th Pursuit Group in Northern Australia protecting Darwin, and became George's habitual exclamation while shooting "craps" (dice game). A passion of his. And whilst flying with the 49th Pursuit Group, George was credited with damaging 2 Japanese aircraft.

As it is for many aircraft enthusiast, as myself, the North American P-51 Mustang is THE piston engine fighter of WW2. Although I'd have to say there is no better aircraft to see display than a Supermarine Spitfire. An aerial grace unequalled.

Both the Preddy Brothers flew this superb aircraft, and unfortunately, both were K.I.A . William was brought down while strafing Budejovice aerodrome in Czechoslovakia. This was after William and his CO, Capt. Raymond Reuter, had given chase to two Me 262 jets after strafing airfields at Klatovy and Eisendorf. They could not catch the 262's but their chase had led them to Ceske Budejovice – about 75 miles south of Prague – where they decided to make one last strafing run at the airfield before going home. William was at the controls of P-51K-5-NA, SN:44-11623 marked D7-A "Rusty". It was thought William died in the resulting crash after being shot down by AA. But It is now known that William was not die in the aircraft, but died 3-4 days later from lack of immediate medical care from the Germans. What made this even more saddening was the fact that just 4 days later on the 21st April 1945 the 339th flew their last combat mission of the war. Capt. Reuter was also killed in the same action when his aircraft exploded when hit by AA.

George's demise was a very tragic one. George did not die at the hands of a German Ace ( or a very lucky ) pilot, but at the hands of American AA guns on Christmas Day 1944. George had taken his squadron, 328FS, out on patrol (George was the CO of the Squadron), probably in the hope that the Germans would think the Americans would be whooping it up at Christmas and so would not be out to play. George put up his pants legs showing the red socks his mother had sent him saying, "Let's go get' em!". I have also read he said " Preddy's going hunting ". But which ever phrase he used, George was in good spirits and ready to take on what ever the Luffwaffe could throw at him.

For 3 hrs not much happened until a radio called vectored them to a dogfight in progress. On arriving, George got stuck in straight away, and dived in on a Me109 (George was never a guy to sit back when there was a target to be had). Whilst in a tight turning fight with the Me109, a further Me109G-14, (WNr.785756 Yellow 9 piloted by Fw. Karl-Heinz Schroder of II./JG27), passed directly in front of him. In a flash, George plugged the passer by and gained his first kill of the day, (George once said "I'm sure as hell I'm not a killer, but combat flying is like a game, and a guy likes to come out on top"). On a personal thought, I'd like to think that all who fought in war's did not want to kill, but did, as it was an inevitable part of war. I think George was one of these people.

George continued to gain on the first Me109G-10 (WNr.490180 Yellow 14 piloted by Fw. Fritz Koal of II./JG27), and eventually got the upper hand and scored his second of the day. (Both pilots managed to bail out).

"Alles Schlaft" ©Troy White
( Picture Used With Permission From Troy )
Many Thanks.

(Fw. Fritz Koal in Yellow 14,and Fw. Karl-Heinz Schroder in Yellow 9 ).These where the 2 aircraft George shot down just before his untimely demise.

By now the squad was well spread out, so George and his wingman, Lt. Gordon J. Cartee continued to patrol alone until joined by Lt. James Bouchier from the 479FG. With 2 kills George's lucky fighting socks were paying off. George then received a vector to bandits Southeast of Liege. On arrival, George spotted a lone Fw190 at very low level (tree top height) heading East making a run for it (the area was strewn with forests). Not wishing the Fw190 to get away to fight another day (as tomorrow YOU could be HIS next kill) George gave chase.

Gaining quickly from a dive, George began to close on the Fw190, but Lady Luck smiled on this particular German pilot. The 555th AAA Bn (AW) of the 12th AAA Group, believed to be Battery C, were having a bad day, and it was about to get worse. Poor visibility had been plaguing the unit all day. Aircraft were heard but not seen. Then they got a call stating "unidentified" bandits in their sector. The unit scramble to their guns ready for a possible attack, and at that moment ,"unidentified" aircraft came thundering by. The Fw190 very closely followed by Major. Preddy's P-51D, "CRIPES A` MIGHTY" PE-P 44-14906.

The frustrated gunners opened up on them. As the speed and height of the aircraft were so close, they passed in very close proximity to each other, so by the time the bullets reached them, it was George who takes the hits. According to reports, only 60 rounds were claimed to have been fired, but this doesn't add up with Cartee's claims of heavy gunfire even when they could have been seen to be "Friendly".

Once George had pulled up he released his canopy, but was unable to bail out. His aircraft went in and cart wheeled disintegrating in a field some 1000yrds from the unit. By the time help had arrived, it was to late, Major. George Earl "Ratsy" Preddy Jr, the highest ranked Mustang Ace of WW2, was dead.

Above, another clip from Youtube, "Wings God Gave My Soul" Edited from the DVD, "A Gathering of Heroes - The Last Reunion,". A documentary detailing the life and times of 352nd FG pilots. The title "Wings God Gave My Soul" , comes from a sonnet George Preddy conveyed to Reverend E.H.Neese while on leave in the US in September 44. This in turn, came to be the title for the 1st edition biography of Major. Preddy written by his cousin Joe Noah in 1974.

The sonnet as recorded by Reverend Neese.

" I must go back-back to do my part,
Back to fly and give again;
And I am not afraid.
My plane may be shot away;
But I shall not fall,
For I have wings.
 Wings not of wood or steel or stuff,
But wings of a firmer kind.
 Wings God gave my soul.
Thank God for wings.

At this moment in time, I am pawing over information as to the events of the day. This is because there no matter how many time I have read the story of the demise Major. Preddy, I always seem to see discrepancies in the accounts I have read given by eye-witnesses and reports. Hopefully I can come up with a definitive account of the action.

In a letter written after the war by Frizt Koal, the pilot of Yellow 14, shot down by Preddy that Christmas day said,

"I feel sorry that Major G.E.Preddy died when shot down by friendly fire. This is a sad ending for an ace, but was not so uncommon as some people think. I recall these accidents in the Luftwaffe as well. When thinking back I have to feel thankful for Preddy scoring the victory in our encounter. I got out of the war for a while and survived. Who knows whether I would have survived without this break".

Many Thanks to Troy White for the above info.

 To this end, I flew Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator under the name of "CRIPES_A_MIGHTY" in honour of George and William Preddy on the MS Gaming Zone.

George Preddy was not the only USAF ace to come to an untimely demise Christmas Day 44".
Capt. Donald R. Emerson of the 336FS, 4FG, also fell to AAA. This time is was British AAA.(?)

Capt. Donald R. Emerson and the wreck of his aircraft.

This P-51 has been painted to represent Capt. Emerson's aircraft and resides at the RAF Museum Hendon UK
It is fully operational and in flying condition.

Close up of nose art.

Capt. Donald R. Emerson  is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands

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