Guest Blogger: Cripes A’ Mighty

 

"I’m sure as hell not a killer, but combat flying is like a game, and a guy likes to come out on top." 

 

On this Christmas I’d like to take a moment to remember an exceptional fighter pilot, George Preddy, who was shot down and killed on 25 December 1944 in a tragic friendly fire accident. 

Major Preddy was born in Greensboro, NC. Prior to the war he was a barnstormer. In 1940 he made three (ill-advised, in my humble opinion) attempts to join the Navy, being (fortunately) rejected each time for physical problems. Later on that year he applied to join the USAAF, being accepted this time. Preddy first spent 6 months flying missions in the Southwest Pacific in a P-40, flying 25 combat missions before being downed and seriously injured in a mid-air collision with one of his squadron mates during a training mission. After recovering he managed to pull some strings and get assigned to a newly formed unit heading to the ETO.

The 352^nd Fighter Group would become one of the most decorated fighter units of the war, but was at this time full of mainly green inexperienced new pilots who had yet to see combat. They were assigned to fly the P-47 on escort missions. They flew their first mission on 9 September 1943. Preddy got his first kill in 1 December. It was later that month that Preddy would earn his first decoration (http://www.historynet.com/air_sea/aces/4575507.html):

“On December 22, the 352nd lifted off to guard part of a returning force of 574 bombers that had savaged the marshaling yards of Münster and Onabrück. Preddy’s wingman that day was brilliant young concert pianist Lieutenant Richard L. Grow. Just east of the Zuider Zee, the pair of Americans became separated from the rest of their flight during a swirling, confused dogfight in blinding cumulus clouds. Climbing back to the bombers’ altitude, they spotted a gaggle of six Messerschmitt Me-210s and 10 Me-109s chewing on the tail of a crippled Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Unhesitatingly diving into the interceptors, Preddy quickly torched the Me-210 nearest the bomber before the Me-109s could interfere. With the pack now chasing them, the intrepid Thunderbolt pilots plunged for the clouds. Preddy managed to outpace his pursuers, but the fighters on Grow’s tail apparently finished him before he could reach the fleecy cloud cover. The blossoming concert star never made it back to Bodney, but the limping Liberator, Lizzie, got home. Preddy was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross for that action, but instead received his country’s third-highest award for heroism, the Silver Star.”

Grow was the only wingman Preddy would lose in the course of the war. Preddy was hit hard on a mission in January and was forced to ditch in the Channel. Soon after, the 352^nd switched aircraft to the longer ranged P-51, with which they would earn their nickname of the “Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney.” By this time, Preddy had taken to putting the phrase “Cripes A’ Mighty” on the nose of all the aircraft he flew for good luck. It was a phrase he would use while playing craps, and was the strongest profanity anyone ever heard him utter.

Major Preddy continued to rack up kills at a steady pace during the spring and summer of 1944, in the process completing a standard 200 hour tour of duty plus two 50 hour extensions. He was working on his third by August, when he flew what was probably his most famous mission:

“He downed an Me-109 on August 5, and when he returned to Bodney he heard the weatherman’s prediction of bad flying conditions for the next day, along with word that no flights would be scheduled. That same night the 352nd gave its war bond drive party, and the combat-weary Preddy enjoyed himself greatly at the bash. Following that celebration, he reeled off to his quarters past midnight. Twenty minutes later an aide shook him awake to inform him a mission was scheduled after all, and it was his turn to serve as flight leader. After a farcical briefing during which he was so drunk he fell off the podium, Preddy’s buddies sat him in a chair and held an oxygen mask over his nose until he appeared somewhat sober. They kept a close watch on their swaying major until takeoff, and continued to observe him as he led them aloft on a maximum-effort mission to Berlin.

The weather was beautiful, with mostly clear skies. The Luftwaffe was up in force. Before the Americans reached their target, more than 30 Me-109s intercepted the group of Boeing B-17s Preddy’s unit was shepherding, arriving from the south. Preddy led an attack from astern and opened fire on a trailing plane, apparently killing the pilot. That Messerschmitt instantly heeled over and spiraled down in flames. Wading into the formation, Preddy came up behind a second Me-109 and ignited it with a flurry of hits to the port wing root. The pilot bailed out. Advancing into the enemy formation from the rear, the Americans picked off one fighter after another. Meanwhile those in front took no evasive action, seemingly unaware of the destruction creeping up from behind.

Preddy torched two more 109s before the remaining Germans perceived the trailing menace and went into a dive. The Mustangs followed hungrily. Preddy dispatched his fifth victim as the dwindling flock of Germans descended to 5,000 feet and one jerked his plane into a sharp left turn. This pilot had evidently seen Preddy and was trying to get onto his tail, but the American snap-rolled to the left and passed over his opponent. The German gamely tried to copy the maneuver and opened fire, but the angle was wrong for him. With the speed Preddy had built up in his roll, he was able to drop astern of his foe and fire from close range. That airman, too, bailed out.

After landing at Bodney, 1st Lt. George Arnold photographed a wan, sick-looking Preddy climbing from his out-of-ammunition Mustang. Gun camera footage and testimony from fellow pilots confirmed his achievement of six kills in one flight. War correspondents and photographers were on the way, and for the next few days Preddy was the most exalted soldier in Europe. Lieutenant Colonel John C. Meyer recommended his 25-year-old hero for the Medal of Honor for his exploits of August 6. To Meyer’s surprise and anger, however, on August 12 Brig. Gen. Edward H. Anderson instead pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross on Preddy’s tunic.”

Major Preddy returned home after his third extension ran out, but did not remain stateside for long, telling his minister that he had to go back. He got another tour extension and returned to take command of the 352^nd’s 328^th Fighter Squadron. He continued to score kills as he led the squadron to a new stateside base in Belgium, until Christmas Day 1944 when tragedy struck:

“On Christmas Day Preddy and nine of his pilots took off for a hopeful sweep over confused woodland fighting. After patrolling for three fruitless hours, they received radar vectoring to intercept bandits just southwest of Koblenz. Diving on the targets, Preddy quickly flamed two Me-109s, forcing their pilots to hit the silk. The dogfight carried the combatants close to Liége, where Preddy latched onto the tail of an Fw-190. At less than 100 feet he was pouring bullets into his victim when an American anti-aircraft emplacement opened fire on both planes with .50-caliber machine guns. Realizing he was shooting at a friendly plane, the gunner stopped after firing only about 60 rounds, but it was too late. One of the big bullets had hit Preddy, and although he managed to release his canopy, he was unable to bail out. Mortally wounded, he crash-landed near the flak pit.”

 

Major Preddy was just 25 when he died. He left behind a legacy as one of America’s greatest fighter pilots, including being the highest ranked Mustang ace and 6^th on the list of all-time American aces. He was highly decorated, standing out even among such company as the 352^nd. His commander at the 352^nd, Gen. (then Col) John C. Meyer, had this to say about him:

"George was small and slight. He was soft-spoken, without even a hint of braggadocio. [But] I have never met a man of… such intense desire to excel…. George Preddy was the complete fighter pilot."