P-51 Cripes A' Mighty 3rd
Name: Cripes A' Mighty 3rd
Owner: Kermit Weeks
Markings: Major G.E. Preddy of the 352nd Fighter Group, 487th Squadron, The Blue Nosers known as the Blue Nose Bastards of Bodney. Stationed in Bodney, England. Major Preddy is the third highest scoring Ace in the ETO,seventh highest American Ace, and the top Mustang Ace with 26.83 kills.
I once had the opportunity to meet Fred Allison, a pilot in the 352nd FG, 487th FS. He was assigned there the same time Preddy, Meyer, and Whisner were there. At times he had been a wingman for Preddy, the highest scoring Mustang Ace. I asked him, " How did your Squad become known as the Blue Nose Bastards from Bodney?" He replied, "We used to go beat up on the Abbeyville Kids on a pretty regular basis and after awhile whenever the German Air Commander, Pete Goering, saw us coming, he would say, "Here come those Blue Nose Bastards from Bodney again!" The Blue Nosers were stationed at Bodney, England. The Abbeyville Kids were a crack German Fighter Squad. They had to have 20 kills just to get in it. The blue nose is obvious.