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National Air and Space Museum Archives
Major George E. Preddy, Jr. Combat Footage
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NASM.1993.0066
- Creators:
-
Preddy, George E., 1919-1944
- Dates:
-
[ca. 1940s]
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
2 Cubic feet(5 film reels)
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This footage consists of five reels of film. The footage includes Preddy's combat footage, including most of his aerial victories through August 6, 1944 and some of this strafing mission footage. In addition, there is also gun camera footage of Preddy firing at two targets and ground targets in 1943.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Major George E. Preddy, Jr. (1919-1944) was an American ace during World War II, with thirty-two and a half (32 1/2) enemy planes to his credit. Six of those enemy aircraft were downed by Preddy in a little more than six minutes. In 1940, Preddy made three attempts to join the US Navy, each time rejected because of physical problems, before he joined the Army Air Corps and was ordered to report to flight training in April 1941. In December 1941, he graduated from flight training and was sent to Australia, to join the 9th Squadron, 49th Pursuit Group. In 1943 he was sent to the European Theatre, where he was part of the 352nd Fighter Group. He crashed to his death when his North American P-51 Mustang was hit during the Battle of Bulge by American machine gunners' flak on Christmas Day, 1944.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Rachel Preddy Harris, Gift, 1992, 1993-0066, unknown
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
More Information
General
General
NASMrev
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
North American P-51 Mustang Family | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Fighter pilots | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Aeronautics, Military | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Aeronautics | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
World War, 1939-1945 | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Motion pictures (visual works) | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Preddy, George E., 1919-1944 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
United States. Army Air Forces. 352nd Fighter Group | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Air and Space Museum Archives
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
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