What a giant of aviation!! 😢Sadly he and his brother would be both KIA in P-51’s,,I have always stopped on my way to His home state of NC and paid my respects near a sign erected on the highway for both Brothers!! Rest In Peace Ancient Warrior!!
So many untold stories. Had not heard of him...yet I loved the "Jug" & the "mustang" (D) Salute! Sir! But I could write a book about my father's time in service. RIP Dad! 24 vets a day ends themselves. Don't forget!
The film on this is AMAZING!!! USUALLY random planes, days, location, but this, I've never seen it with just 1 guy and what he did. RIP,. Thank you for our freedom, hopefully we don't screw it up.
Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job making it easier for viewers to better understand what the orator was describing. Historians did a very good job presenting actual facts from fiction. Class A research project. Orator presented the documentary very well. Special thanks to major preddy & the other brave/fearless pilots whom challenged the axis pilots some times surviving some times perishing. Mission after mission they always met the enemy with the iron nerves to defeat the challenging enemy. Without their tireless dedication this documentary is possible!!!
I was4 months old when this man died. I was drafted at age 21 into the US Army. I have real pride in knowing that I wore the same uniform as this man, for the same Country..
Think his brother was also shot down and killed in the ETO towards the end of the war if I'm not mistaken. True heroes!! Love stories of the fighter pilots back in the 40s.
His brother Wiilliam was shot down while straffing Budejovice aerodrome in Czechoslovakia. This was after William and his CO, Capt. Raymond Reuter, had given chase to two Me 262 jets after strafing airfields at Klatovy and Eisendorf. They could not catch the 262's but their chase had led them to Ceske Budejovice - about 75 miles south of Prague - where they decided to make one last strafing run at the airfield before going home. William was at the controls of P-51K-10-NA, SN:44-11623 marked D7-A "Rusty". It was thought William died in the resulting crash after being shot down by AA. But It is now known that William did not die in the aircraft, but died 3-4 days later from lack of immediate medical care from the Germans. What made this even more saddening was the fact that just 4 days later on the 21st April 1945 the 339th flew their last combat mission of the war. Capt. Reuter was also killed in the same action when his aircraft exploded when hit by AA.
Am absolutely interested in the sacrifices those have made before us. Am personally intrigued by ww2 aviation as im a relative of Sidney Brooks, a Tuskegee Airmen killed in a belly landing attempt.
@@randymitchell6373 Cool!.....And sorry to hear he was killed. I used to build models..mainly aircraft...and the P-51 was my fav...even though I'm English. It was when I was building this particular aircraft..George Preddy's ...an Airfix 1/72..Thta really got me interested in the men who flew them. Up until then i hadn't really thought about the pilots....I was about 12. When I read about Preddy being killed on Christmas Day..(though I'm not religious). It got me thinking about the pilots of the models I was building. And Preddy really caught my attention. I couldn't find much info about him back then...this was in 1980. So i kind of gave up..That is until I got my first PC in 98. I wanted to get online..so with in a year I had built a new PC myself from scratch after knowing nothing about PC. And built a website and launched it late 99. The website was dedicated to Major Preddy and his brother..and the 352nd FG...Unfortunately is was closed down the servers of the provider closed. I last updated the site in 2007...but it closed around 2011. But by then I was no longer with the provider as it had closed..the servers were still up for a few years..But I could no longer access it. Then it just dissappeared...I stiil have some of the site but it's no longer online...I copied some of the text I had put up on the site about William.....hence how I knew about him...I still spread the word about the Preddy brothers. But I've given up on most things now. I lost my partner to cancer in 2017 and ill health & depression have taken hold. So I don't usually do anything much now. Just watch YT videos to pass the time.
I am from Greensboro NC. He was so respected the Veterans of Foreign war building was names after him as well as Petty Blvd. tragically killed by his own anti aircraft guns
War was over, and they were flying against German newbie pilots for the most part. However, there were still a few veteran German aces around with five years of experience and sometimes hundreds of aerial victories. Also a few German jets that could run rings around a P 51.
George Preddy first shootdown was BF-109 in December of 1943 he was flying a P-47 I would not say he got into it late. 5 months later in April of 1944 he transitioned to the P-51 mustang. Obviously with the industrial manufacturing power of the United States really didn't matter how many Aces Germany had. The number of P-51's flying vr the number of competent pilots in German aircraft was 10 to 1. Wasn't all that easy to find German fighters in the air late in 1944.
George brother Bill also flying the Mustang was reported missing in action of which his mother reported to meco Stanly she expected to see him walking up the sidewalk back home any day. Sadly he would be reported killed in his Mustang three months after brother George. Mrs Priddy died never to learn of Bill having died in action flying a Mustang.
I can understand that question. People like he, and myself do not volunteer and go to war for medals, but for a greater purpose. It is the service and that camaraderie that feeds us.
What a record - to get that award he probably shot down about 400 - oh, not that many well now Hartman ijn a 109 shot down 352 and other magnificent German REAL aces downed in the 300's and many, many in the high 200 - but then the us always likes to brag - even when they have nothing to brag about - which is most of the time !!!
Major Preddy flew against German pilots who were typically well trained. Eric Hartmann flew almost all his missions against Soviet Russian pilots who were sent up into the sky with really minimal training because the Russians simply had to put men into planes. No denigrating of Eric Hartmann, but it is patently unfair, and unreasonable to compare results from different conditions, general abilities of opponents, different planes, different situations.THEY DID THEIR BEST.
What a giant of aviation!! 😢Sadly he and his brother would be both KIA in P-51’s,,I have always stopped on my way to His home state of NC and paid my respects near a sign erected on the highway for both Brothers!! Rest In Peace Ancient Warrior!!
Yeah, and they both died in similar fashion, by anti-aircraft gunfire. Will died about a couple weeks before the European Theater came to an end.
So many untold stories. Had not heard of him...yet I loved the "Jug" & the "mustang" (D) Salute! Sir!
But I could write a book about my father's time in service. RIP Dad!
24 vets a day ends themselves. Don't forget!
The film on this is AMAZING!!!
USUALLY random planes, days, location, but this, I've never seen it with just 1 guy and what he did.
RIP,. Thank you for our freedom, hopefully we don't screw it up.
Wayne: thank you for posting this stellar, marvelous documentary. I’m wondering what is the beautiful music at the very end. God bless you. 🙏🏽
On this Memorial Day 2023 I salute the memory of this remarkable Warrior for Freedom.
I built a P51 2/3 scale with all the markings of Cripes a Mighty 3. It always got a lot of attention no matter what airport I went to with it....
Wow !
Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job making it easier for viewers to better understand what the orator was describing. Historians did a very good job presenting actual facts from fiction. Class A research project. Orator presented the documentary very well. Special thanks to major preddy & the other brave/fearless pilots whom challenged the axis pilots some times surviving some times perishing. Mission after mission they always met the enemy with the iron nerves to defeat the challenging enemy. Without their tireless dedication this documentary is possible!!!
Major Preddy is from my home town of Greensboro, NC.
I was4 months old when this man died. I was drafted at age 21 into the US Army. I have real pride in knowing that I wore the same uniform as this man, for the same Country..
Thank you for this upload!
I would hate to be the guy who shot him down.
Thank you for your service preddy.
Cripes A mighty.
Think his brother was also shot down and killed in the ETO towards the end of the war if I'm not mistaken. True heroes!! Love stories of the fighter pilots back in the 40s.
His brother Wiilliam was shot down while straffing Budejovice aerodrome in Czechoslovakia. This was after William and his CO, Capt. Raymond Reuter, had given chase to two Me 262 jets after strafing airfields at Klatovy and Eisendorf. They could not catch the 262's but their chase had led them to Ceske Budejovice - about 75 miles south of Prague - where they decided to make one last strafing run at the airfield before going home. William was at the controls of P-51K-10-NA, SN:44-11623 marked D7-A "Rusty". It was thought William died in the resulting crash after being shot down by AA. But It is now known that William did not die in the aircraft, but died 3-4 days later from lack of immediate medical care from the Germans. What made this even more saddening was the fact that just 4 days later on the 21st April 1945 the 339th flew their last combat mission of the war. Capt. Reuter was also killed in the same action when his aircraft exploded when hit by AA.
@@Bodneyblue thank you for this. Honored to know what truly happened.
@@randymitchell6373 Your most welcome...glad to know folks are interested and that those who sacrificed are not forgotten.
Am absolutely interested in the sacrifices those have made before us. Am personally intrigued by ww2 aviation as im a relative of Sidney Brooks, a Tuskegee Airmen killed in a belly landing attempt.
@@randymitchell6373 Cool!.....And sorry to hear he was killed. I used to build models..mainly aircraft...and the P-51 was my fav...even though I'm English. It was when I was building this particular aircraft..George Preddy's ...an Airfix 1/72..Thta really got me interested in the men who flew them. Up until then i hadn't really thought about the pilots....I was about 12. When I read about Preddy being killed on Christmas Day..(though I'm not religious). It got me thinking about the pilots of the models I was building. And Preddy really caught my attention. I couldn't find much info about him back then...this was in 1980. So i kind of gave up..That is until I got my first PC in 98. I wanted to get online..so with in a year I had built a new PC myself from scratch after knowing nothing about PC. And built a website and launched it late 99. The website was dedicated to Major Preddy and his brother..and the 352nd FG...Unfortunately is was closed down the servers of the provider closed. I last updated the site in 2007...but it closed around 2011. But by then I was no longer with the provider as it had closed..the servers were still up for a few years..But I could no longer access it. Then it just dissappeared...I stiil have some of the site but it's no longer online...I copied some of the text I had put up on the site about William.....hence how I knew about him...I still spread the word about the Preddy brothers. But I've given up on most things now. I lost my partner to cancer in 2017 and ill health & depression have taken hold. So I don't usually do anything much now. Just watch YT videos to pass the time.
What is the name of this documentary?
I am from Greensboro NC. He was so respected the Veterans of Foreign war building was names after him as well as Petty Blvd. tragically killed by his own anti aircraft guns
Preddy
Makes me damn proud to be a Tarheel!!!!
There is no reason GSO shouldn’t be named Preddy Field
With those ears he could fly without a plane ✈
Well Done, Major Preddy.
War was over, and they were flying against German newbie pilots for the most part. However, there were still a few veteran German aces around with five years of experience and sometimes hundreds of aerial victories. Also a few German jets that could run rings around a P 51.
George Preddy first shootdown was BF-109 in December of 1943 he was flying a P-47 I would not say he got into it late. 5 months later in April of 1944 he transitioned to the P-51 mustang. Obviously with the industrial manufacturing power of the United States really didn't matter how many Aces Germany had. The number of P-51's flying vr the number of competent pilots in German aircraft was 10 to 1. Wasn't all that easy to find German fighters in the air late in 1944.
Is it worth, 6 medals for your life?
Some guys are just built different. It wasn’t about medals but pursuing the enemy in situations where others might not.
He gave his life for our life and freedoms. I’m sure he didn’t care about medals.
George brother Bill also flying the Mustang was reported missing in action of which his mother reported to meco Stanly she expected to see him walking up the sidewalk back home any day. Sadly he would be reported killed in his Mustang three months after brother George. Mrs Priddy died never to learn of Bill having died in action flying a Mustang.
I can understand that question. People like he, and myself do not volunteer and go to war for medals, but for a greater purpose. It is the service and that camaraderie that feeds us.
Killed by friendly fire.
I did not know this
What a record - to get that award he probably shot down about 400 - oh, not that many well now Hartman ijn a 109 shot down 352 and other magnificent German REAL aces downed in the 300's and many, many in the high 200 - but then the us always likes to brag - even when they have nothing to brag about - which is most of the time !!!
Major Preddy flew against German pilots who were typically well trained. Eric Hartmann flew almost all his missions against Soviet Russian pilots who were sent up into the sky with really minimal training because the Russians simply had to put men into planes. No denigrating of Eric Hartmann, but it is patently unfair, and unreasonable to compare results from different conditions, general abilities of opponents, different planes, different situations.THEY DID THEIR BEST.