My favorite books were mysteries, stories on athletes, and war stories. I remember one book that made an huge impact was a book on WWI aircraft pilot aces. Eddie Rickenbacker was the most successful American fighter ace in the war with 26 kills. He also led an incredible life after the war that you can read more about HERE.
That book prompted me to research WWII's aces and that led me to learning about George Preddy. George grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and his love for flying was born early in his life. After school he became a barnstormer pilot but when WWII started he made three attempts to join the U.S. Navy and was rejected each time for his physical condition. Dejected, he returned to barnstorming but he didn't give up on his goal of being a fighter pilot. During the summer of 1940, before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he made another attempt to join the USAAF and this time he passed all the required tests. He was told he would have to wait for an opening so while waiting Preddy joined the Army National Guard to gain experience and serve his country while waiting for the USAAF to notify him of an opening.
In April of 1941 Preddy finally received his orders to report to flight training. His goal of becoming a fighter pilot was now within his reach. Already his tenacity and single-minded focus was becoming apparent to his commanding officers. General John C. Meyer who was Preddy's squadron commander for more than a year, wrote: "I have never met a man of . . . such intense desire to excel . . . George Preddy was the complete fighter pilot."
On December 12th, 1941 and five days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he graduated from flight training school and was dispatched to Australia to join the 9th Pursuit Squadron. The next six months Preddy flew combat and training missions in the P-40 aircraft. These combat missions netted him two damaged enemy aircraft. However, in July 1942 Preddy was involved in a serious mid-air collision that killed one of his fellow squadron mates and left Preddy in the hospital for several months. The road back to achieving his dream was now clouded with emotional, mental and physical challenges.
December of 1942 found him in Massachusetts, seeking an assignment to join a fighter squadron. He was finally assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group and in July their squadron was transferred to Bodney, England. After extensive training flying P-47's Mustangs, Preddy flew his first combat mission in September 1943 and scored his first kill on December 1st, two years after graduating from flight training school. He quickly developed a reputation for not being afraid of fighting superior forces and earned a Silver Star for protecting an damaged B-24 bomber by luring the enemy aircraft away using his aircraft as bait.
In April of 1944, the 352nd converted to P-51's and Preddy got his fifth kill on May 13th, well on his way to becoming the leading active ace in the European Theater. By July 18th, George Preddy and his team were becoming a well-oiled machine and had become tuned to the tricks of the enemy. In December of 1944 the 352nd was moved to Belgium to assist in the Battle of the Bulge.
On Christmas Day, 1944, Preddy was leading a patrol of 10 of his fighter pilots to support American fighters caught behind enemy lines. After downing two enemy aircraft he saw a rouge enemy plane heading for Allied positions. During the chase, both aircraft were roaring along at treetop heights and American anti-aircraft batteries fired at both planes, killing Preddy in the process.
It is generally established that Preddy would have probably been in the top 5 aces of WWII if he had survived. (As it is he is ranked 7th with 26 kills.) His letters and diary reveal a man with a unusual philosophy for a 25 year old man. His loyalty, fearlessness, and courage were boundless and his efforts were a major reason for Allied victories in Europe.
He once said, "I'm sure as hell not a killer, but combat flying is like a game, and a guy likes to come out on top." I don't know if George Preddy ever met General George Patton but I'd bet they would have got along swimmingly. Here is what General Patton said about Americans and winning: "Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big-league ball players and the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans. Battle is the most significant competition in which a man can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base."
Let's never forget that one of the reasons America is free is our reliance on the will and efforts of men like George Preddy. To remember him properly is to honor him eternally.
