Major George E. Preddy, Jr. Combat Footage

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

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.