Preddy pics from 6 August 1944 ...

[Chicoartist]

6 Aug 44 - Maj. George E. Preddy poses for the camera shortly after downing six Me 109s in his P-51D-5-NA 44-13321 HO-P, Cripes A' Mighty 3rd. KIA (friendly fire) on 25 Dec 44, his final tally would be 26.833/3/4. Preddy is the top P-51 Mustang ace of all time.

The late Gen. John C. Meyer said of him that he "was just the greatest fighter pilot who ever squinted through a gunsight; he was the complete fighter pilot."



Wade

Last edited by Chicoartist on Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Cripes A Mighty]

[michaelharadon]

That's 26.8 he got credit for. I wonder how many he actually shot down.

[Jack Cook]

Come on Wade!!!!
One can only imagine the 4th FG shots you have!!!

[Chicoartist]

Come on Wade!!!!
One can only imagine the 4th FG shots you have!!!

Probably not as much as you, Jack!

More from my stash later ... gotta get my stuff together for Seattle next week. Preddy will have to hold ya till I get back.



Wade

[Chicoartist]

These shots were taken by Lt. George Arnold as Preddy parked following his downing of six Me 109s. The PR pic I posted above was taken immediately after these. I forget where *I* got them, but I'm quite sure Sam Sox was responsible for saving the set:

















Wade

[Jack Cook]

WADE,
I got 2 of those OF Preddy from Tom Colby but mine are reversed.
They look strange seeing yours the correct way.

[Stoney]

from your port I thought a T-6 had crashed, please don't do this again!!

[MX304]

from your port I thought a T-6 had crashed, please don't do this again!!

I thought the same thing, was almost scared to open it...

[Matt Gunsch]

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... 7621eedb38

[DanteC]

WADE,
I got 2 of those OF Preddy from Tom Colby but mine are reversed.
They look strange seeing yours the correct way.

A very good friend's father-in-law was MIA in Tom Colby's P-51D. His daughter was born a few days later, and is one of a few of the 352nd's War Bond Babies.

I have only seen one photo of Colby and his Mustang. I do not know which one it was, but his name was Gerald Thurman and I believe he went down 6 AUG 44.

Dante

[Jack Cook]

Tom Colby was a great guy and lived up in Tigard. He eventually moved back to CA and passed away a few years ago. All his P-51s were "Lil' Evey"

[rwdfresno]

from your port I thought a T-6 had crashed, please don't do this again!!

God forbid you actually open the thread without panicking.

[Django]

So T-6 = Six?

I think it's fine.

Cool photos!

[Chicoartist]

Thanks, guys, but on THIS forum I think they're right about my poor choice of thread title ("Six Down" - I just changed it), that is, here on WIX we deal with historical as well as currently flying birds ... it wasn't until just now when I first read the 'complaints' above that it struck me the wrong way as well.

Oh, yes, "Six" is a common reference to the T-6 series, thus the easily misunderstood choice of title, especially for those who know 'Six' drivers. I can understand your heart skipping a beat there. Sorry - my bad.

Wade