W. Freddy

W. Freddy is a modest memorial in Záluží, a small settlement belonging to the municipality of Dolní Třebonín in the Český Krumlov district of South Bohemia. It commemorates an American fighter pilot, 1st Lieutenant William Rhodes Preddy, who died in this area during the final weeks of World War II. The site's name is a corrupted spelling of his real surname — Preddy, not "Freddy."

Who was William Preddy?

William Rhodes Preddy was born on July 20, 1924, in Greensboro, North Carolina. After completing flight training, he earned his pilot's wings and a commission as a second lieutenant in May 1944. He was assigned to a fighter unit of the United States 8th Air Force, flying P-51 Mustangs over occupied Europe. In January 1945 he learned that his older brother, Major George E. Preddy Jr., had been killed a month earlier during the fighting in the Ardennes.

What happened near Záluží on April 17, 1945?

On that day William Preddy took part in an attack on the airfield at Planá, near České Budějovice. During the raid, his aircraft and that of a fellow pilot flying alongside came under heavy anti-aircraft fire from the ground. Preddy was severely wounded and either crash-landed or went down in fields near Záluží; local farmers, who happened to be planting potatoes nearby, witnessed the crash. He was taken to a hospital in České Budějovice, where he died of his wounds. He was not yet 21 years old.

Why is the story of the Preddy brothers so remarkable?

William's death carries an extra weight given his brother's fate. George Preddy was one of the most successful American fighter aces of World War II, also flying the P-51 Mustang — he was killed on December 25, 1944, in France, struck down by friendly anti-aircraft fire during the Battle of the Bulge. The two brothers now rest side by side at the Lorraine American Cemetery in France. Back home in Greensboro, a street was named in their honor.

Where is the memorial and how do you get there?

Záluží sits in the hilly countryside near České Budějovice, on the edge of the Šumava region, as a small part of the Dolní Třebonín municipality. The memorial stands close to the spot where Preddy's aircraft went down in 1945 and is one of several small memorials scattered across South Bohemia honoring Allied airmen who lost their lives over the region in the war's final weeks. It's a quiet, low-key stop for anyone interested in aviation history or local WWII heritage, and it pairs well with a visit to nearby České Budějovice or Český Krumlov.

Frequently asked questions

Who is commemorated at Záluží? American fighter pilot 1st Lieutenant William Rhodes Preddy of the US 8th Air Force, shot down in this area on April 17, 1945.

Where does the name "W. Freddy" come from? It's a garbled version of the pilot's actual surname, Preddy.

What happened to the pilot after the crash? Severely wounded, Preddy was taken to a hospital in České Budějovice, where he later died of his injuries.

Is the memorial connected to another well-known airman? Yes — William's brother was Major George Preddy, one of the top American fighter aces of the war, killed in France a few months earlier.

Where is William Preddy buried? At the Lorraine American Cemetery in France, next to the grave of his brother George.