William Rhodes Preddy
Military ROLL OF HONOURJCook Photo Collection & Archives
Killed in Action (KIA) crashed near Prague (unknown cause) in P-51 'Rusty' 44-11623. Bill was flying wing to Captain Ray Reuter when the two chased a pair of ME262 jet fighters. Hoping to catch them as they landed, but failing, they decided to strafe the German Airfield at Budejovice, Czechoslovakia. Both were shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. However, none of their squadron mates knew what happened, so they were listed as Missing in Action (MIA) on the last mission flown by the 339th. It wasn't until 1991 that we learned their fate. The Czechs have built memorials to both because they helped liberate them from the Nazis. Lieutenant Preddy was the brother of Lieutenant George Preddy who was killed by 'friendly' fire. George was with the 352nd Fighter Group and was a top ace.
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME (2 Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-832663
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (352nd Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-430846
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born YouTube story on Lt. Preddy: https://youtu.be/xNfAlNsDVDs |
Greensboro, North Carolina | 20 July 1924 | Son of George Earle and Clara Estelle [Noah] Preddy. |
Enlisted |
Miami Beach, FL | 26 February 1943 | Miami Beach, Florida |
Other Flight training |
Mission, TX | 23 May 1944 | Advanced - Graduated 2lt - Mission, TX Class 44-E. |
Other E/A Destroyed |
Germany | 2 March 1945 | Claimed Fw190 and Me109 destroyed, credited 1 x kill, 1 x damaged. |
Died |
Vicinity of Klatovy, Czech | 17 April 1945 | Crashed near Prague (unknown cause) in P-51 'Rusty' 44-11623 Killed in Action (KIA) |
Buried |
Re-Interred Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial Plot A, Row 21, Grave 42 | ||
Other Flight training |
Cuero, TX | Primary - Cuero, Texas | |
Other Flight training |
Waco, TX | Basic - Waco, Texas |
Revisions
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56651989/william-r-preddy
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
https://www.fold3.com/image/29436098
https://www.fold3.com/record/84096776-william-r-preddy
https://www.fold3.com/record/529896017-william-r-preddy
https://www.fold3.com/image/29435539?terms=44-11623
https://www.fold3.com/image/310763749?terms=William%20R%20Preddy
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56651989/william-r-preddy
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13938 / MACR 13938/Joe Noah, cousin / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list