George Preddy's Last Chase by Jim Laurier

George Preddy was World War II's highest-scoring Mustang ace, with twenty-eight victories. On one mission in 1944, he scored six kills in the span of a few minutes. Preddy was a natural fighter pilot; usually quiet and always aggressive, he didn't mind "mixing it up" in the air or on the ground. Well-regarded by all who knew him, Preddy was dealt a sad fate on Christmas Day 1944, when he was accidentally shot down by US anti-aircraft units in Germany as he chased a low-flying Fw190. American gunners were jumpy when they heard the sound of approaching aircraft engines. At the first sight of aircraft, they opened fire, ironically missing the German plane and hitting both Mustangs.