Major George E. Preddy Jr. is the top P-51 Mustang Ace of all time Preddy finished the war with 26.83 victories, 24 were scored with the Mustang. On 23 December 1944 the 352nd FG moved from Bodney England to an advanced base at Asch, Belgium to assist the 9th Air Force in the Battle of the Bulge.

On Christmas Day 1944 Preddy was leading the 328th Fighter Squadron when they encountered Me 109s of JG 27.The Messerschmittsof II./ JG 27 had taken off from their base at Hopsten, Germany just after 11:00 under the leadership of Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Herbert Kutscha and headed for St. Vith to support ground troops involved with the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge). At about noon the Gruppe became involved in a large air battle over the Ahr Valley. The battle took place between the towns of Adenau and Bad Neuenahr near the famous Nurburgring Formula 1 race course. Before it was over eight Bf 109s from II./JG 27 would litter thelandscape below.

Preddy led his squadron into the attack and quickly shot down two of the enemy planes scoring what would be his final two victories. After dispatching those two Germans, Preddy and his wingman Lt. James Cartee were joined by Lt. James Bouchier of the 479th FG. George spotted an Fw190D on the deck and the three dove after it. Before Preddy could shoot the German down both Preddy and Bouchier were hit by American anti-aircraft fire. Preddy was hit by gunfire and attempted to bail out but was killed when his parachute failed to open. Bouchier managed to bail out safely.

At the time of his death, George Preddy was the top American Ace flying operations in the ETO.

Pilots Ray Mitchell and Bobby Dodd, both of whom flew with the 328th FS of the 352nd FG under George Preddy’s command, attended the May 8, 1999 PMF symposium. Each told a fond memory he has of his squadron leader. Bobby recalled that on the day he was promoted from second to first lieutenant, upon meeting up with George Preddy that evening Preddy congratulated Dodd on his promotion and offered to buy him a beer in honor of the occasion. He went on to explain that Preddy, being Dodd’s commanding officer, had initiated his promotion in the first place, so it was just exemplary of George’s gallant and modest nature to treat the event as something that had just occurred on its own. Ray Mitchell shared that the last thing George, who he a called a "fine fellow who was always concerned about his flight and his men", said before getting into his cockpit on Christmas day 1944 was "Preddy’s going hunting today" and pulled up his pants leg to show off his red socks.

Record	Events	Title	Source Website	Type	Created
George Preddy 6 Aug 44.JPG			Fold3	Image	Dec 12, 2008
Bailout!			Fold3	Image	Dec 13, 2008
George E. Preddy Jr.			Fold3	Image	Dec 13, 2008
George E Preddy Jr	Birth, Custom, Enlistment, Military Service, Other, People	US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946	Fold3	Index Record	Nov 27, 2008

George E Preddy Jr

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