M16 Multiple Gun Carriage Honoring George Preddy
Sept 5, 2023 17:10:35 GMT -5
deafpanzer, chromdome35, and 2 more like this
Post by M1Carbine on Sept 5, 2023 17:10:35 GMT -5
This was built for my client and will be on display at the future NC National Guard museum honoring Major George Preddy. He flew in both the PTO and ETO till his tragic death.
George Preddy was killed on the morning of December 25, 1944, by friendly fire. As commanding officer of the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd FG, he was leading a formation of 10 P-51s. After patrolling for about three hours, they were directed to assist in a dogfight already in progress. Preddy destroyed two Messerschmitt Bf 109s[10] before being vectored to intercept a lone Focke-Wulf Fw 190 strafing Allied ground forces southeast of Liège, Belgium. As he pursued the Fw 190, Preddy's aircraft as well as two other P-51s passed over the Allied front line at treetop height. A US Army anti-aircraft (AA) battery (believed to be part of the 430th AA Battalion, XIX Corps) fired at the Fw 190 but missed and, instead, hit Preddy's P-51. Preddy managed to release his canopy but was unable to bail out before his aircraft hit the ground at high speed. Although the shallow angle of impact meant the crash was potentially survivable, his wounds from .50-caliber machine gun fire were mortal.
A hero lost to soon and an amazing leader and pilot with 26.83 victories. Eighth on the list of all time highest scoring American aces. Many have probably built a kit of a P 40 with “Tarheel” on the engine cowling or a P47 or P51 with a blue nose and “Cripes-A-Mighty" on the cowling.
Finished With Vallejo, Various stowage from Blackdog.
-Bob
George Preddy was killed on the morning of December 25, 1944, by friendly fire. As commanding officer of the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd FG, he was leading a formation of 10 P-51s. After patrolling for about three hours, they were directed to assist in a dogfight already in progress. Preddy destroyed two Messerschmitt Bf 109s[10] before being vectored to intercept a lone Focke-Wulf Fw 190 strafing Allied ground forces southeast of Liège, Belgium. As he pursued the Fw 190, Preddy's aircraft as well as two other P-51s passed over the Allied front line at treetop height. A US Army anti-aircraft (AA) battery (believed to be part of the 430th AA Battalion, XIX Corps) fired at the Fw 190 but missed and, instead, hit Preddy's P-51. Preddy managed to release his canopy but was unable to bail out before his aircraft hit the ground at high speed. Although the shallow angle of impact meant the crash was potentially survivable, his wounds from .50-caliber machine gun fire were mortal.
A hero lost to soon and an amazing leader and pilot with 26.83 victories. Eighth on the list of all time highest scoring American aces. Many have probably built a kit of a P 40 with “Tarheel” on the engine cowling or a P47 or P51 with a blue nose and “Cripes-A-Mighty" on the cowling.
Finished With Vallejo, Various stowage from Blackdog.
-Bob
