Maj George Preddy Jr at Bodney

jagdtiger:

Yes for those of us who know the story of the 352nd and the very sad tale of the Maj George Preddy and his younger brother Lt. Bill Preddy, it tells the tale of how brutal war can be. I know that until their deaths in back in Greensboro NC, the parents of George & Bill had two large pictures of their sons on the wall and never turned the lights off that reflected on their images till their deaths in the early 70’s. I have talked to many veterans of the 352nd and to this day his death is still hard to accept. Not sure if what contex you pose the question, but it was the actions by Germany that did cause his death and millions of others in that horrible war ! The loss of the Preddy brothers is still felt today by many who knew them . I posted those photographs to honor their memory !

BlueNoser352!

Heres a clue!………………..it was`nt the Germans

Own goal huh?

How very, very sad. All war is tragic, but that sort of thing really makes it worse somehow.

Moggy

And guess which side shot him down?…………..

Here is a photograph of the last P-51 the Major would fly and the one he was shot down in on Christmas Day 1944.

BlueNoser352!

Heres a clue!………………..it was`nt the Germans

Re Shots

Man – these are just great shots from that era – great thing about this hobby is the number of shots taken and preserved , they really are priceless . Another thing is the calibre of those Men and of course the beautiful P51 !!

We are indeed Lucky – Jets are for Kids !!

Lt Bill Preddy of the 339th FG !

A nice shot of Major Preddy’s younger brother and P-51 fighter pilot Lt Bill Preddy from Greensboro, NC. The younger Preddy got two victories on March 2, 1945 and sadly was lost late in war on April 17th 1945. He is buried beside his brother in the Lorraine US Military Cementery, St. Avold France.

Maj Preddy awarded the DSC for actions on Aug 6th 1944

In an award ceremony at Bodney, Maj Preddy recieved the Distinguished Service Cross on August 12, 1944. After this mission, CRIPES A” MIGHTY” would show 31 Balkan crosses on its side!

BlueNoser352!

Lt Preddy in Australia with “Tar Heel”

In the early days of his military career, Lt Preddy was sent to Australia and flew missions against the Japanese. After he survived a mid-air collision with another aircraft, he came back to heal and was sent with the newly formed 352nd to the UK…well the rest is history! Here he is seen beside his P-40 WarHawk…”Tar Heel”, named in honor of his home state of North Carolina. Later in the war another Tar Heel native, James Starnes from Wilimington, NC would name his P-51 “Tar Heel” flying with the 339th 505th SQ our of Fowlmere scoring 12 victories with group. Later in his career Col. Starnes flew F-4’s in Vietnam. I will post a wonderful color photograph of Tar Heel he gave me when I visited him at his home.

BlueNoser352!

Maj Preddy sitting in Cripes at Bodney!

A very rare photograph of Maj Preddy sitting in his Mustang at Bodney!

BlueNoser352!

Maj Preddy’s last “Cripes A Mighty” at Bodney!

Here is a photograph of the last P-51 the Major would fly and the one he was shot down in on Christmas Day 1944.

BlueNoser352!

Thanks Skyraider will do !!

Thanks Skyraider…will do, I do go their often to check in on the latest info about the P-51, its a great site devoted to the Mustang! Here is another shot of Maj Preddy talking to war correspondent Arch Whitehouse at Bodney, after his Aug 6th mission. Nice looking shot of his A-2 with a fighting Donald Duck in view.

Thanks!
BlueNoser352!

BlueNoser352, thanks! 🙂 They’re wonderful photos and may I suggest you also post them on: http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/forums/
The guys there are all Mustang fans and will LOVE your pictures!!

A-2 “Cripes A Mighty” Nose Art Jacket

I had this jacket does as a tribute to Major Preddy a few years ago…..!
BlueNoser352!

Looking at some of the pics of Preddy’s P51, the inner wheel well doors seem to be drooping slightly. Is that normal, or is it an indication that combat aircraft didn’t have the niceties looked after?

Moggy

Hello Moggy,

While doing research for scale models, I found that the P-51’s inner wheel well doors are fully closed when the engine is running. After the engine is stopped, they slowly drop into the open position. Something to do with the drop in hydraulic pressure when the engine is not running.

Cheers, Transall.

MOGGY…LOL…and in return we will ship you guys the overpaid prima-donna’s in the NFL and Steroid infested Major Leauge Baseball ! Now in Malcom Glazer tries to buy Duxford …well there would be a national uprising by you guys & me as well ! Good observation about Preddy’s Mustang at Bodney. Next time I speak with my friend who flew with the 339th FG..Eighth AF I will ask him.

Thanks !
TC!

BN, forget football, most of us here would be delighted if the US was to buy the entire Premier League, a gang of overpaid, prima-donna, immigrants by and large, and ship them to the States, along with their ‘fans’.

Now cricket….. 🙂

Looking at some of the pics of Preddy’s P51, the inner wheel well doors seem to be drooping slightly. Is that normal, or is it an indication that combat aircraft didn’t have the niceties looked after?

Moggy

Great pictures BN. Some great reference material there.

Tempestnut

Moggy:

Good Sunday Morning to you , yes great current photo you posted. Glad to see this is one Yank who is not trying to buy anything related to Manchester United !!!! Finally figured out how to use my scanner…four years at university and I can’t even master a computer manual !!!! I hope those tapes will work for you when and if you can remaster them to Pal from NTSC! I do wish they would agree upon one format for all the worlds video/DVD systems. I will post more Bodney photos when I can did them out. I do hope you guys win the world cup !!!!!!!!!!

All The Best Moggy!
BlueNoser352!

Having been inside the control tower at Bodney, I always think of the scene and how different a world it was back then during war time operations! Wish the control tower could be saved as a very fitting memorial to all of those who served with the 352nd & our great British Allies!

BlueNoser352!

Love the picture BN 🙂

This is pretty much that scene today.

Moggy

Nose Art on Maj Preddys P-51 CRIPES A’ MIGHTY 3RD!

Nice close up taken on the hardstand at Bodney of Preddy’s P-51 Mustang! The Major was quite fond to say this as he rolled the dice in many a poker game with the 352nd…so he named his plane after very colorful phrase. He did name his first aircraft , a P-40 War Hawk he flew while in service in Australia he called “Tar Heel”, named after his home state of North Carolina.

CRIPES A’ MIGHTY 3RD get a some TLC at Bodney!

Ground crew members loading some Christmas presents for the Luftwaffe
at Bodney !