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armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter
Airplane in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 6 August 1944, during an air mission in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Major Preddy was leading a fighter group on a bomber escort mission against targets in the vicinity of Hamburg, Germany. As the bomber formation approached its objective, a flight of thirty enemy fighters with top cover support of an additional thirty fighters attempted to intercept the bombers. Major Preddy, with his wingman individually attacked the lower enemy flight, and in spite of its superiority in numbers and the danger of attack from above, pressed home his attack with such aggressiveness that the enemy threat was completely broken up. In the ensuing engagement Major Preddy destroyed six enemy fighters. By his disregard for personal safety and his determined will to destroy the enemy, Major Preddy rendered outstanding and valorous service to our nation.
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512:, Germany. As they reached the target, the bombers were attacked by a formation of Bf 109s. As the Bf 109s did not notice the escorting P-51s, Preddy led an attack against the Bf 109s from astern and shot down two of them. Preddy shot another two Bf 109s before the Germans began to escape after realising they were being attacked. As the Americans continued to follow them, Preddy shot down a fifth Bf 109. As the fighters descended to 5000 ft, Preddy shot down a sixth Bf 109, making him one of the 38 USAAF pilots to become an "
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The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) George Earl Preddy, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an
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Fighter
Victory Credits Board in the 1950s reduced his aerial credits to 25.83 before Preddy's first cousin Joe Noah challenged the change after discovering that the board disallowed one of Preddy's aerial victories for which he received his first Silver Star. In 1978, the USAF corrected the error
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During World War II, Preddy was credited with the destruction of 26.83 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 4 shared destruction and 5 destroyed on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. While serving with the 352nd FG, he flew P-47 and P-51s bearing the name "Cripes A'Mighty". Initially, the
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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.
564:. On that day, he was leading a formation of 10 P-51s and after patrolling for about three hours, they were directed to assist in a dogfight already in progress. Preddy destroyed two Bf 109s before being vectored to intercept a lone Focke-Wulf Fw 190 strafing Allied ground forces southeast of
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while remainder of his squadron shot down 24 enemy aircraft, setting an Eighth Air Force record for aerial victories by a squadron in a single mission. On the mission in the following day, he shot down a Fw 190. During the
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377:. Preddy claimed two Japanese aircraft damaged over Darwin. He was hospitalized after a midair collision with another P-40, in which the other pilot, 2nd Lt. John Sauber, was killed. After his recovery, he arrived at
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In the aftermath of the mission, Preddy returned to the United States for a 30-day stateside tour. On
October 28, 1944, he returned to England and was assigned as commanding officer of the
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flying boat arrived and attempted to rescue Preddy, but rough seas resulted in the aircraft almost drowning him. After rescuing him, the aircraft had to be towed to the coast by the
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near Asch, Belgium. During this time, the pilots flew aerial patrols, ground attack and reconnaissance missions in support of the Allied ground forces during the battle.
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kept circling over Preddy and repeatedly radioing his coordinates despite his risk in running out of fuel until air-sea rescue could triangulate the position. A
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Bf 109G-14/AS Werk.No.784111 "Yellow 6" of Uffz. Heinrich Zinnen, killed, and Bf 109G-14 Werk.No.785758 "Yellow 9" Fw. Karl Heinz Schröder, wounded
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but was forced to turn back from the mission along with 196 other P-47 pilots due to near-empty fuel tanks. On
December 1, 1943, he shot down a
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George Preddy
Greensboro's Ace, North Carolina Museum of History, Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, 2005.
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within the 352nd
Fighter Group. He was provided with a brand new P-51D-15NA and on November 2, he led the squadron on the bomber escort over
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credited with 26.83 enemy air-to-air kills (a number that includes shared one-half and one-third victory credits), ranking him as the top
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Major George E "Ratsy" Preddy Jr. of the 352nd
Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang (HO-P, serial number 44-13321) nicknamed
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On
January 29, 1944, the 352nd FG escorted a formation of 800 bombers returning after targeting industrial complexes in
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Noah, Joe & Sox, Samuel L. Jr. (1991). George Preddy Top
Mustang Ace. Greensboro, NC: Preddy Memorial Foundation.
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In 1993, Preddy's first cousin Joe Noah founded the Preddy Memorial Foundation to honor both Preddy and his brother.
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Preddy flew his first European combat mission in September 1943 and on October 14, 1943, he took part in the
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and managed to shoot down one of them and lure the remaining away from the B-24, for which he received the
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during a war bond party on the previous day, Preddy led his squadron on a bomber escort mission over
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airfield. Before his death, William was credited in destroying one enemy airplane in aerial combat.
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There is a memorial kiosk with video, photos, and models of planes flown by the Preddy brothers at
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on April 17, 1945, from wounds he sustained when he was shot down by enemy AA fire, while strafing
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1738:"Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II"
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Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II
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Post 2087 in Greensboro was named after George Preddy, soon after the end of World War II.
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when another board was convened, officially crediting Preddy with 26.83 aerial victories.
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1985:"Following A Hero\A Greensboro Native Shares The Story Of Fighter Pilot George Preddy Jr"
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2088:- North Carolina Newspaper Article: Preddy Fighter Ace Legends Live On Through Cousin
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Scutts, J. (1994). Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
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with another airman. From June 12 to August 5, he had scored nine aerial victories.
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Preddy hold up hands for six enemy aircraft he shot down on 6 August 1944 mission.
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and served with the 252nd Coast Artillery Regiment. Preddy attempted to become a
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in California, looking for an assignment and in December 1942, he was sent to
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2083:- Raleigh Newspaper Article: Discussion On Renaming of Pope AFB to Preddy AFB
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National Museum of the United States Air Force: Major George Preddy
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George Preddy was killed on the morning of December 25, 1944, by
520:, the highest American military award, by his squadron commander
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His biggest day came on August 6, 1944. Despite suffering from a
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after he shot down two Bf 109s during a bomber escort mission to
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516:". For his actions in the mission, Preddy was nominated for the
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286:. Following graduation, he worked at a cotton mill and attended
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United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II
478:, as the aircraft broke one of its pontoons in the rough sea.
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Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Belgium
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
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487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force
580:(AA) battery (believed to be part of the 430th AA Battalion,
408:. The group landed in the United Kingdom and was assigned to
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
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in recognition for his actions during the August 6 mission.
497:, he shot down a Fw 190 and shared in the destruction of an
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in Alabama, on December 12, 1941, just five days after the
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and then bailed out of his aircraft. Preddy's wingman Lt.
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and eighth on the list of highest scoring American aces.
1632:"Synopsis of George Preddy Top Mustang Ace and addendum"
1656:(1st ed.). Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International.
401:. On June 30, 1943, the 352nd FG boarded the troopship
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1854:"George Preddy: Top-Scoring World War II Mustang Ace"
1799:
Dictionary of North Carolina Biography P-S · Volume 5
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1713:"George Preddy, Jr.: The USAAF's Greatest P-51 Ace"
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2898:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944
2878:Burials at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
1630:Joe Noah & Samuel L Sox Jr (January 3, 2007).
493:on May 13. On June 20, while escorting bombers to
1554:"George Preddy – The Preddy Memorial Foundation"
601:Preddy's brother William, a P-51 pilot with the
2010:"P is for Preddy Brothers, George and William"
1352:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
389:in Massachusetts where he was assigned to the
2113:
1802:. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 139.
454:. Over the French coast, Preddy shot down an
375:Japanese aircraft attacking Darwin, Australia
250:(February 5, 1919 – December 25, 1944) was a
8:
2888:Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)
1906:"1st. Lt. William R. Preddy, fighter pilot"
1881:"Synopsis of George Preddy Top Mustang Ace"
609:, was later buried alongside George at the
2868:Military personnel killed by friendly fire
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617:, France. William died in what is today's
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1983:Foust, Cassandra P. (December 23, 1997).
1250:with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
1203:with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
481:In April 1944, the 352nd FG converted to
318:on April 29, 1941. He was commissioned a
2775:
2753:List of United States World War II aces
1978:
1976:
1528:"The 'Full House' Painting and History"
1471:
1418:Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
1115:Preddy's military decorations include:
524:. On August 12, Preddy was awarded the
416:, under the operational control of the
2858:United States Army Air Forces officers
2838:People from Greensboro, North Carolina
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1574:Howell Jr., Russ (November 27, 2019).
1510:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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462:. He managed to fly his P-47 over the
302:On September 1940, he enlisted in the
1652:Joe Noah and Samuel L Sox Jr (1991).
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373:, which provided air defense against
7:
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1460:Piedmont Triad International Airport
1403:Distinguished Service Cross citation
326:and was awarded his pilot wings at
2863:Aviators killed by being shot down
14:
2828:American World War II flying aces
1170:with one bronze oak leaf cluster
290:for two years, before becoming a
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1931:"Valor awards for George Preddy"
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1354:with four bronze campaign stars
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16:American World War II flying ace
1398:Army Presidential Unit Citation
332:Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
1762:Ivie, Tom (October 20, 2012).
1424:Date of Action: August 6, 1944
1302:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
1263:American Defense Service Medal
636:Chronicle of aerial victories
1:
2848:Recipients of the Silver Star
2758:List of top World War II aces
1678:"352nd Fighter Group (USAAF)"
1654:George Preddy Top Mustang Ace
304:North Carolina National Guard
252:United States Army Air Forces
129:United States Army Air Forces
2833:Aviators from North Carolina
1989:Greensboro News & Record
1956:"Preddy Memorial Foundation"
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483:North American P-51 Mustangs
2893:Grimsley High School alumni
2843:Recipients of the Air Medal
2135:United States World War II
1831:"Kracker Luftwaffe Archive"
1711:Bell, Kelly (August 2013).
1143:Distinguished Service Cross
526:Distinguished Service Cross
278:Preddy was born in 1919 in
201:Distinguished Service Cross
2914:
1768:. Bloomsbury. p. 93.
1576:"An Ordinary American Boy"
1367:World War II Victory Medal
1201:Distinguished Flying Cross
611:Lorraine American Cemetery
280:Greensboro, North Carolina
220:Distinguished Flying Cross
93:Lorraine American Cemetery
61:Greensboro, North Carolina
2748:
2318:Dominic Salvatore Gentile
2139:with 15+ aerial victories
635:
385:in New York and later to
361:Preddy was assigned as a
30:
1796:Powell, William (1994).
1446:Veterans of Foreign Wars
112:United States of America
2585:William T. Whisner Jr.
2073:- Portrait of the flyer
1743:. 1978. p. 153-154
1717:Warfare History Network
1277:American Campaign Medal
595:United States Air Force
429:Second Schweinfurt raid
82:German-occupied Belgium
2497:John C. "Pappy" Herbst
2078:- more pictures of him
2048:- one magazine article
1453:Business Interstate 85
1411:
1112:
1108:Restored P-51 Mustang
629:Aerial victory credits
603:503rd Fighter Squadron
533:328th Fighter Squadron
391:487th Fighter Squadron
358:
350:
284:Greensboro High School
248:George Earl Preddy Jr.
176:328th Fighter Squadron
25:George Earl Preddy Jr.
2093:The Preddy Foundation
1601:"George E. Preddy Jr"
1410:
1107:
458:but was hit by enemy
439:against a straggling
356:
345:
135:Years of service
2689:Edward "Porky" Cragg
2665:David Lee "Tex" Hill
2561:James S. Varnell Jr.
2545:John F. Thornell Jr.
2211:Charles H. MacDonald
1885:Aviation History Hub
1534:on December 22, 2012
1385:with Palm (Belgium)
1100:Military decorations
854:Messerschmitt Me 410
698:Messerschmitt Me 210
668:Messerschmitt Bf 109
572:. As he pursued the
422:VIII Fighter Command
367:9th Pursuit Squadron
348:Cripes A' Mighty 3rd
324:U.S. Army Air Forces
2697:Kenneth H. Dahlberg
2649:Richard A. Peterson
2617:Charles R. Stimpson
2382:Robert B. Westbrook
2326:Fred J. Christensen
1765:352nd Fighter Group
1110:Cripes A Mighty 3rd
607:339th Fighter Group
546:Battle of the Bulge
395:352nd Fighter Group
316:U.S. Army Air Corps
166:352nd Fighter Group
2465:Glenn T. Eagleston
2409:Patrick D. Fleming
2286:David C. Schilling
2270:Eugene A. Valencia
1412:
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1042:Merseburg, Germany
883:Magdeburg, Germany
485:. Preddy became a
468:William T. Whisner
371:49th Pursuit Group
359:
351:
162:49th Fighter Group
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2203:Robert S. Johnson
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2195:Gregory Boyington
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2043:- website article
1580:O. Henry Magazine
1415:Preddy, George E.
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1129:USAAF Pilot Badge
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1053:December 25, 1944
1033:November 21, 1944
726:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
719:December 29, 1943
691:December 22, 1943
682:P-47D Thunderbolt
418:67th Fighter Wing
399:P-47 Thunderbolts
320:second lieutenant
292:barnstormer pilot
245:
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138:1941 – 1944
70:December 25, 1944
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2014:Greensboro Daily
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1910:Legiontown U.S.A
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1636:Aviation-History
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1530:. Archived from
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1492:on July 20, 2012
1491:
1485:. Archived from
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623:České Budějovice
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288:Guilford College
258:and an American
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58:February 5, 1919
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2673:Jack T. Bradley
2625:George S. Welch
2569:John T. Godfrey
2521:John B. England
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2262:Cecil E. Harris
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1005:487 FS, 352 FG
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916:487 FS, 352 FG
903:
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889:487 FS, 352 FG
869:487 FS, 352 FG
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815:487 FS, 352 FG
792:487 FS, 352 FG
769:487 FS, 352 FG
742:487 FS, 352 FG
714:487 FS, 352 FG
686:487 FS, 352 FG
653:Aircraft flown
631:
585:
584:) fired at the
573:
558:
472:Royal Air Force
464:English Channel
414:Watton, Norfolk
405:Queen Elizabeth
365:pilot with the
340:
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298:Military career
276:
254:officer during
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865:P-51D Mustang
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2537:Duane Beeson
2513:Hubert Zemke
2342:John J. Voll
2218:
2152:Richard Bong
2017:. Retrieved
2013:
2004:
1994:December 15,
1992:. Retrieved
1988:
1965:November 16,
1963:. Retrieved
1959:
1950:
1940:November 18,
1938:. Retrieved
1934:
1925:
1915:November 16,
1913:. Retrieved
1909:
1900:
1890:November 16,
1888:. Retrieved
1884:
1874:
1864:December 19,
1862:. Retrieved
1857:
1848:
1839:
1825:
1815:November 16,
1813:. Retrieved
1798:
1791:
1781:December 16,
1779:. Retrieved
1764:
1757:
1747:December 15,
1745:. Retrieved
1732:
1720:. Retrieved
1716:
1685:. Retrieved
1681:
1672:
1653:
1635:
1610:November 23,
1608:. Retrieved
1604:
1595:
1585:November 23,
1583:. Retrieved
1579:
1569:
1557:. Retrieved
1548:
1536:. Retrieved
1532:the original
1526:fran adams.
1521:
1494:. Retrieved
1487:the original
1474:
1457:
1450:
1444:
1441:
1432:
1396:
1390:
1380:
1304:with bronze
1216:Purple Heart
1114:
1109:
1086:
797:May 30, 1944
774:May 13, 1944
600:
591:
559:
530:
514:ace in a day
503:
480:
449:
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404:
363:P-40 Warhawk
360:
347:
338:World War II
301:
277:
268:World War II
264:P-51 Mustang
256:World War II
247:
246:
230:Purple Heart
186:World War II
182:Battles/wars
72:(1944-12-25)
18:
2818:1944 deaths
2813:1919 births
2601:Bill Harris
2137:flying aces
1879:Noah, Joe.
1722:January 14,
1559:February 3,
1538:December 6,
1168:Silver Star
707:Netherlands
615:Saint-Avold
445:Silver Star
328:Craig Field
210:Silver Star
40:Nickname(s)
2807:Categories
1858:HistoryNet
1687:January 5,
1663:0966904206
1466:References
487:flying ace
476:Royal Navy
410:RAF Bodney
274:Early life
100:Allegiance
54:1919-02-05
2797:Biography
1960:Guidestar
1496:March 30,
1451:In 1968,
1438:Memorials
1429:Citation:
1248:Air Medal
1085:SOURCES:
1065:, Germany
1022:, Germany
1020:Merseburg
979:, Germany
956:, Germany
933:, Germany
910:, Germany
861:, Germany
809:, Germany
807:Magdeburg
786:, Germany
761:, Germany
703:Zuiderzee
650:Location
582:XIX Corps
537:Merseburg
495:Magdeburg
452:Frankfurt
397:, flying
312:U.S. Navy
239:Air Medal
2785:Aviation
2227:Joe Foss
2019:July 26,
1506:cite web
954:Naumburg
859:Bernburg
832:, France
506:hangover
172:Commands
118:Service/
2771:Portals
2668:(15.25)
2660:(15.25)
2652:(15.25)
2644:(15.25)
2580:(16.25)
2572:(16.33)
2548:(17.25)
2540:(17.33)
2516:(17.75)
2361:(20.75)
2337:(21.25)
2321:(21.83)
2222:(26.83)
1063:Koblenz
977:Hamburg
908:Rostock
735:Belgium
731:Malmedy
677:Germany
570:Belgium
510:Hamburg
437:Me 210s
393:of the
369:of the
322:in the
310:in the
266:ace of
43:"Ratsy"
2588:(16.4)
2532:(17.5)
2524:(17.5)
2476:(18.5)
2468:(18.5)
2460:(18.5)
2452:(18.5)
2444:(18.5)
2329:(21.5)
2289:(22.5)
2066:
2056:
1860:. 2006
1806:
1772:
1660:
1059:Bf 109
1039:Fw 190
1016:Bf 109
996:Bf 109
973:Bf 109
950:Bf 109
931:Munich
927:Bf 109
902:Bf 109
880:Bf 109
851:Fw 190
830:Rennes
826:Bf 109
803:Bf 109
780:Bf 109
673:Rheydt
586:Fw 190
574:Fw 190
499:Me 410
456:Fw 190
433:Bf 109
192:Awards
120:branch
109:
88:Buried
2394:15–19
2247:20–24
2180:25–29
1741:(PDF)
1490:(PDF)
1483:(PDF)
1068:P-51D
1045:P-51D
1025:P-51D
1002:P-51D
982:P-51D
959:P-51D
936:P-51D
913:P-51D
904:Ju 88
886:P-51D
835:P-51B
812:P-51B
789:P-51B
759:Stade
739:P-47D
711:P-47D
647:Type
641:Date
566:Liège
556:Death
152:Major
78:Liège
76:near
2740:(15)
2732:(15)
2724:(15)
2716:(15)
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2206:(27)
2198:(28)
2190:(28)
2171:(34)
2163:(38)
2155:(40)
2064:ISBN
2054:ISBN
2021:2012
1996:2023
1967:2023
1942:2023
1917:2023
1892:2023
1866:2010
1817:2023
1804:ISBN
1783:2023
1770:ISBN
1749:2023
1724:2023
1689:2023
1658:ISBN
1612:2022
1587:2022
1561:2021
1540:2012
1512:link
1498:2012
750:0.20
550:Y-29
460:flak
403:RMS
158:Unit
143:Rank
67:Died
48:Born
2145:30+
970:0.5
924:0.5
848:0.5
800:2.5
412:in
260:ace
241:(7)
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