Strana 43
P-51B-10-NA, s/n 42-106451, Maj. George E. Preddy, 487th FS, 352nd FG, 8th AF,
Bodney, Great Britain, June 1944
P-51B-15-NA, s/n 42-106924, 2nd Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, 334th FS, 4th FG,
8th AF, Debden, Great Britain, June 1944
Preddy’s first personal Mustang was a natural
metal finish aircraft with blue nose adorned
with the yellow inscription “Cripes A’Mighty”.
The application of invasion stripes overlapped
the HO
-
P fuselage code which was partially
showing through under the white paint. So, an
individual letter P was added to the tail surfaces
as it was obscured by the invasion stripes on the
fuselage. At the time of the invasion, Preddy’s
Mustang already had a new type Malcolm Hood
cockpit canopy installed. The nose of Preddy’s
Mustang was decorated with 12 German crosses
as symbols of his victories. Preddy made his last
flight in a P-51B on June 12, 1944, six days after
the invasion of France, when he claimed another
destroyed Bf 109. He then took over the brand
new P-51D-5 “Cripes A’Mighty 3rd“. In August
1944, Major Preddy was sent to the United Sta-
tes for retirement, and upon his return in Oc-
tober he assumed command of one of the sub-
ordinate squadrons of the 352nd FG, 328th FS.
On December 25, in the early hours of the mor-
ning, while chasing an Fw 190 over the front,
Preddy’s aircraft was accidentally hit by Ame-
rican anti-aircraft fire. He still attempted an
emergency landing near an anti-aircraft batte-
ry but, as he was fatally wounded, he crashed.
In total George Earl Predddy achieved 25 victo-
ries and four shared, 22+4 when flying Mustangs
(including 5+2 victories in P-51Bs).
Light-hearted, perhaps undisciplined, but all
the more courageous and charismatic was “Kid”
Hofer, one of the USAAF’s most successful figh-
ters. The nickname was based on his youthful
appearance and his flowing and by Army stan-
dards long hair as well as his prevailing good
humor. Until his death, he destroyed 15 enemy
aircraft in the air, damaging two and destroying
another 14 on the ground. On July 2, 1944, “Kid”
participated in the escort of bombers to Buda-
pest from the Italian base Foggia. Prior to rea-
ching the target area, a group of Bf 109 entered
the scene, and the aerial battle started. Hofer’s
leader had to make an emergency landing due
to a malfunction and watched from the ground
as a Hungarian Bf 109, sitting on the tail of his
Wingman, opened fire. Hofer’s Mustang was ap-
parently only damaged, so he tried to return to
the base. Near Mostar, he decided to strafe a
German airfield, his P-51B “Salem Representa-
tive” was hit by flak and “Kid” Hofer was killed.
KITS 03/2025
INFO Eduard
43
March 2025