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Rating: 
Summary: An Ace's Fitting Biography
Review: Reviewer: John Edwards from United States February 29, 2000 These are merely some thoughts that came to mind while reading the book and shortly thereafter and are in no particular order. This is a detailed account with complimentary diary excerpts providing an excellent glimpse into the man and the ace fighter pilot. A hall mark of a well written biographical account in my opinion is one that depicts the person, not just his/her accomplishments. Military biographies generally do this. I detected no attempt to smear anyone or organization as some lesser works. The book is supported by solid research and timely use of primary and secondary sources, especially interviews and personal rememberances of Preddy. The use of personal recollections makes the book read like an oral history instead of a typical biographical sketch. A particular strength of the work is the use of 'real' photographs, not the well publicized and over used images commonly found in biographical accounts. The gun camera stills bring a certain sense of immediacy to thebook. What better way to visualized the chaotic, swirling dogfights over Europe than with the same images Preddy saw, taken from his own gun camera. I personally like the clear, logical manner of organziation in the book. The writing seemed dynamic and vibrant instead of staid and flat. I never thought the material presented was out of scope in the chapter in which it appeared. Your own close family ties with George did not prevent you and Sam from capturing the man George was. The writing stayed focus on Preddy's life and did not become a dry operational history of the 352nd during Preddy's service. This certainly held true in the first part of the book with Preddy serving in the Pacific. So often in WWII literature, if the subject served in the ETO and PTO authors commonly short shaft the PTO since it does not carry the same appeal. Your book is proportionally balanced. Well done. These are just random thoughts I had. I enjoyed reading the book. This book does not require prior knowledge like some biographies.
Rating:
Summary: An Ace's Fitting Biography
Review: These are merely some thoughts that came to mind while reading the book and shortly thereafter and are in no particular order. This is a detailed account with complimentary diary excerpts providing an excellent glimpse into the man and the ace fighter pilot. A hall mark of a well written biographical account in my opinion is one that depicts the person, not just his/her accomplishments. Military biographies generally do this. I detected no attempt to smear anyone or organization as some lesser works. The book is supported by solid research and timely use of primary and secondary sources, especially interviews and personal rememberances of Preddy. The use of personal recollections makes the book read like an oral history instead of a typical biographical sketch. A particular strength of the work is the use of 'real' photographs, not the well publicized and over used images commonly found in biographical accounts. The gun camera stills bring a certain sense of immediacy to thebook. What better way to visualized the chaotic, swirling dogfights over Europe than with the same images Preddy saw, taken from his own gun camera. I personally like the clear, logical manner of organziation in the book. The writing seemed dynamic and vibrant instead of staid and flat. I never thought the material presented was out of scope in the chapter in which it appeared. Your own close family ties with George did not prevent you and Sam from capturing the man George was. The writing stayed focus on Preddy's life and did not become a dry operational history of the 352nd during Preddy's service. This certainly held true in the first part of the book with Preddy serving in the Pacific. So often in WWII literature, if the subject served in the ETO and PTO authors commonly short shaft the PTO since it does not carry the same appeal. Your book is proportionally balanced. Well done. These are just random thoughts I had. I enjoyed reading the book. This book does not require prior knowledge like some biographies.
Rating:
Summary: An ace's fitting biography
Review: These are merely some thoughts that came to mind while reading the book and shortly thereafter and are in no particular order. This is a detailed account with complimentary diary excerpts providing an excellent glimpse into the man and the ace fighter pilot. A hall mark of a well written biographical account in my opinion is one that depicts the person, not just his/her accomplishments. Military biographies generally do this. I detected no attempt to smear anyone or organization as some lesser works. The book is supported by solid research and timely use of primary and secondary sources, especially interviews and personal rememberances of Preddy. The use of personal recollections makes the book read like an oral history instead of a typical biographical sketch. A particular strength of the work is the use of 'real' photographs, not the well publicized and over used images commonly found in biographical accounts. The gun camera stills bring a certain sense of immediacy to thebook. What better way to visualized the chaotic, swirling dogfights over Europe than with the same images Preddy saw, taken from his own gun camera. I personally like the clear, logical manner of organziation in the book. The writing seemed dynamic and vibrant instead of staid and flat. I never thought the material presented was out of scope in the chapter in which it appeared. Your own close family ties with George did not prevent you and Sam from capturing the man George was. The writing stayed focus on Preddy's life and did not become a dry operational history of the 352nd during Preddy's service. This certainly held true in the first part of the book with Preddy serving in the Pacific. So often in WWII literature, if the subject served in the ETO and PTO authors commonly short shaft the PTO since it does not carry the same appeal. Your book is proportionally balanced. Well done. These are just random thoughts I had. I enjoyed reading the book. This book does not require prior knowledge like some biographies.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding biography of an aviation hero
Review: This is an interesting story of a young man in World War II. It is detailed and well researched. General John C. Meyer is quoted as saying: "George Preddy was the greatest fighter pilot who ever squinted through a gunsight; he was the complete fighter pilot". The book is also an accounting of the man himself (apart from his war efforts) and his family. It is written by a man who knew George Preddy as a child and looked up to him.
Rating: 
Summary: An author's thoughts on "Preddy"
Review: When the original edition of this book was published, I wondered why the publisher had chosen the "mini" size that has since become more routine for mainstream books---routine in today's world of consolidation and globalization because the tiny handful of big bookstore chains put such a premium on space. The story of Major George Preddy, who was credited with 23.83 aerial victories at the controls of the P-51 Mustang, warranted larger dimensions, more pages, greater thickness, I thought. Many other aces have become the subject of full-sized biographies while some, like Col. (later, Gen.) J. C. Meyer, who admired Preddy, has not. I became very much aware of the Preddy brothers a decade ago when writing a book on the P-51 Mustang (now out of print). The reader of this book will get first-hand glimpses at George Preddy and brother Bill from a cousin (co-author Noah) who knew Preddy personally. The selection of photos is interesting, since many come from family sources and have not been seen elsewhere. The story of George Preddy and his career makes exciting reading. I probably should have given this volume a couple more stars in my rating, but I'm one of those teachers who never hands out an "A." I cannot imagine anyone with an interest in air combat in World War II not having this book.
Rating:
Summary: An author's thoughts on "Preddy"
Review: When the original edition of this book was published, I wondered why the publisher had chosen the "mini" size that has since become more routine for mainstream books---routine in today's world of consolidation and globalization because the tiny handful of big bookstore chains put such a premium on space. The story of Major George Preddy, who was credited with 23.83 aerial victories at the controls of the P-51 Mustang, warranted larger dimensions, more pages, greater thickness, I thought. Many other aces have become the subject of full-sized biographies while some, like Col. (later, Gen.) J. C. Meyer, who admired Preddy, has not. I became very much aware of the Preddy brothers a decade ago when writing a book on the P-51 Mustang (now out of print). The reader of this book will get first-hand glimpses at George Preddy and brother Bill from a cousin (co-author Noah) who knew Preddy personally. The selection of photos is interesting, since many come from family sources and have not been seen elsewhere. The story of George Preddy and his career makes exciting reading. I probably should have given this volume a couple more stars in my rating, but I'm one of those teachers who never hands out an "A." I cannot imagine anyone with an interest in air combat in World War II not having this book.
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