Major George E. Preddy, Jr. of the 487th FS, 352nd FG turns his attention towards a Bf-109G-6 from 1./JG
300 FG as it streaks through a formation of B-17 bombers from the 100th BG while Preddy flies his P-51D-
5NA Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd". This action took place on 29 July 1944 during 8th AF mission #503
to the Halle-Leuna Synthetic Oil Refineries near Merseberg, Germany. Preddy, who would go on to be the
world’s top scoring P-51 Mustang Ace, was credited with the destruction of one Bf-109 on this date. The
352nd FG, based at Bodney, England, claimed a total of 8 Bf-109s and 1 Fw-190 during this Merseberg
mission.
Joe Noah, founder of the Preddy Memorial Foundation and first cousin to George Preddy and his younger
brother Bill, commissioned Troy White to create the book jacket art for the hardcover version of the book
George Preddy: Top Mustang Ace, co-authored by Samuel L. Sox, Jr. and Noah. Troy answered with "American
Patrol", portraying Preddy’s most well known Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd" on his 29 July 1944 mission to
Merseberg, Germany.
The 100th BG, who made its home in Thorpe Abbotts, England, lost 8 B-17s on the 29 July mission. Only
1 of the 6 bombers of the low squadron of its lead group came back from the day’s long journey. Lost
were "Buffalo Gal" with five of its crew surviving after bailing out, and "Sparky" from which only tail
gunner Donald Beasley survived. B-17 42-31903 had four surviving crewmen, only engineer Robert Fife
survived from B-17 42-107211, and B-17 43-37655 had four surviving crewmembers. All nine men aboard
"Regal Eagle", the high squadron lead, survived by bailing out. Of the 2 ships lost from 100th’s "B"
group, one, B-17 42-102667, exploded when hit by flak immediately after dropping its payload.
Amazingly, the entire crew managed to bail out before the bomber blew apart. The eighth of the group’s
losses for the day was "She Hasta", who dropping from the formation due to heavy damage, was
attacked by a jet (probably an Me 163 Rocket Fighter) and had to be ditched in the North Sea. Eight of her
nine men survived to reach the shore. All surviving members of the eight downed bombers were taken
prisoners of war.
The accurate flak plus Luftwaffe fighters attacking at staffel strength or greater added up to disaster for
bomber formations penetrating the area. The swift German fighters took no mercy on wounded B-17s,
pouncing on any sitting-duck stragglers to finish them off. The 100th Bomb Group’s loss accounted for
slightly more than half of the 15 American bombers that fell at the hands of the Germans on that
Merseberg mission. Unfortunately, this devastating loss was nothing new to the group who earned the
nickname "The Bloody 100th" in reference to their knack for losing large numbers of B-17s on a single
mission.
All told, the 352nd FG claimed a total of 8 Me 109s and 1 Fw 190 on this Merseberg mission while losing
one of their own P-51s. The 487th FS accounted for the destruction of 4 of the Me 109s with victories by
Preddy, Lt. Sanford Moats, 2nd Lt. Alex Sears, and Capt. Charles Palmer. One more Messerschmitt fell to
the guns of Lt. Charles Bennett of the 328th FS, and his squadron mate Lt. Charles Cesky downed the
Fw 190. Maj. Gustav Lundquist of the 486th FS claimed the final 2 Me 109s despite his accounting for the
one lost P-51 when the Mustang he piloted was shot down in enemy territory rendering him a POW for
the remainder of the war.
Preddy ranks as the world's top scoring P-51 Ace, claiming 24 in Mustangs out of his total score of 27
aerial and 5 ground victories. "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" likewise is the world’s highest scoring P-51. A total
of 24 enemy aircraft fell to its guns before it was shot down on 16 April 1945.
300 FG as it streaks through a formation of B-17 bombers from the 100th BG while Preddy flies his P-51D-
5NA Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd". This action took place on 29 July 1944 during 8th AF mission #503
to the Halle-Leuna Synthetic Oil Refineries near Merseberg, Germany. Preddy, who would go on to be the
world’s top scoring P-51 Mustang Ace, was credited with the destruction of one Bf-109 on this date. The
352nd FG, based at Bodney, England, claimed a total of 8 Bf-109s and 1 Fw-190 during this Merseberg
mission.
Joe Noah, founder of the Preddy Memorial Foundation and first cousin to George Preddy and his younger
brother Bill, commissioned Troy White to create the book jacket art for the hardcover version of the book
George Preddy: Top Mustang Ace, co-authored by Samuel L. Sox, Jr. and Noah. Troy answered with "American
Patrol", portraying Preddy’s most well known Mustang "Cripes A’Mighty 3rd" on his 29 July 1944 mission to
Merseberg, Germany.
The 100th BG, who made its home in Thorpe Abbotts, England, lost 8 B-17s on the 29 July mission. Only
1 of the 6 bombers of the low squadron of its lead group came back from the day’s long journey. Lost
were "Buffalo Gal" with five of its crew surviving after bailing out, and "Sparky" from which only tail
gunner Donald Beasley survived. B-17 42-31903 had four surviving crewmen, only engineer Robert Fife
survived from B-17 42-107211, and B-17 43-37655 had four surviving crewmembers. All nine men aboard
"Regal Eagle", the high squadron lead, survived by bailing out. Of the 2 ships lost from 100th’s "B"
group, one, B-17 42-102667, exploded when hit by flak immediately after dropping its payload.
Amazingly, the entire crew managed to bail out before the bomber blew apart. The eighth of the group’s
losses for the day was "She Hasta", who dropping from the formation due to heavy damage, was
attacked by a jet (probably an Me 163 Rocket Fighter) and had to be ditched in the North Sea. Eight of her
nine men survived to reach the shore. All surviving members of the eight downed bombers were taken
prisoners of war.
The accurate flak plus Luftwaffe fighters attacking at staffel strength or greater added up to disaster for
bomber formations penetrating the area. The swift German fighters took no mercy on wounded B-17s,
pouncing on any sitting-duck stragglers to finish them off. The 100th Bomb Group’s loss accounted for
slightly more than half of the 15 American bombers that fell at the hands of the Germans on that
Merseberg mission. Unfortunately, this devastating loss was nothing new to the group who earned the
nickname "The Bloody 100th" in reference to their knack for losing large numbers of B-17s on a single
mission.
All told, the 352nd FG claimed a total of 8 Me 109s and 1 Fw 190 on this Merseberg mission while losing
one of their own P-51s. The 487th FS accounted for the destruction of 4 of the Me 109s with victories by
Preddy, Lt. Sanford Moats, 2nd Lt. Alex Sears, and Capt. Charles Palmer. One more Messerschmitt fell to
the guns of Lt. Charles Bennett of the 328th FS, and his squadron mate Lt. Charles Cesky downed the
Fw 190. Maj. Gustav Lundquist of the 486th FS claimed the final 2 Me 109s despite his accounting for the
one lost P-51 when the Mustang he piloted was shot down in enemy territory rendering him a POW for
the remainder of the war.
Preddy ranks as the world's top scoring P-51 Ace, claiming 24 in Mustangs out of his total score of 27
aerial and 5 ground victories. "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" likewise is the world’s highest scoring P-51. A total
of 24 enemy aircraft fell to its guns before it was shot down on 16 April 1945.
"American Patrol"
Overall print size: 22" x 28".
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights
Reserved
Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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