Belgium … February 8, 1944 … Shot Down and AliveFor the first time, the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth is shared in unbelievable detail. Author Steve Snyder’s story of his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder, and the Susan Ruth crew, provides in-depth details about many aspects of World War II few understand or know about including the: • separation for young … separation for young families as men went off to war;
• training before heading to foreign soil;
• military combat operations;
• underground and resistance and what Lt. Snyder did when he joined it;
• German atrocities toward captured crew and civilians;
• behind-the-scenes stories of the Belgium civilians who risked all to save American flyers who were in the air one moment, spiraling down in flames the next;
• creation and dedication of the monument to the Susan Ruth and its crew located in Macquenoise, Belgium in 1989
Shot Down was created from the vast number of letters and journals of Howard Snyder; diaries of men and women on the ground who rescued, sheltered and hid the crew; and interviews conducted by historians. Centered around the 306th Bomb Group in Thurleigh, England, it is informative, insightful and captivating.
For most, 70 years is a long time ago. World War II fades in importance as each year goes by. Shot Down moves history out of the footnotes into reality, keeping the stories of real people alive as they experience being shot down. You are there, almost holding your breath as Lt. Snyder gets his crew out of his B-17 when bailing out over Nazi occupied Europe.
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Steve Snyder has written a very detailed account of his father, Howard Snyder, and the rest of his crew that was shot down near the French / Belgian border in 1944. For a large majority of the book, we read about Howard and his buddies, their families, their training, their desire to be part of the action. There is a lot of information about the life of the soldiers and what they did while being between missions. There is a personal approach to the book, with the author relying on many of his father’s letters to his wife, Ruth, the author’s mother. These letters give an intimate feel to the book.
There are lots of statistics and details about the planes and the missions required. It was interesting to read about many of these.
Late in the book, the author discusses when the plane was shot down and the fate of the crew. Howard Snyder was hidden and aided by the Belgians. There is a memorial in Belgium in recognition of these men.
I also learned about many German words that are in our vocabulary now, and their origin. Words like Luftwaffe, Blitz, Nazi, and Gestapo, as well as others, which I have heard, but never knew their full German word(s).
I enjoyed reading this book, as it brought to mind the kindness of people who are willing to risk their lives to help others. I also was reminded how it is amazing that the Allied Forces were able to win the war when the airplanes and missions were so often destroyed and damaged. My father also served in WWII, and never liked to talk about the war, so it was good to read this account with its personal insight.
I appreciate that the author spent so much time researching this work. It is a gift and a tribute to his father and all the other brave men and the countless men and women who contributed to defeating Hitler and the Nazis.
#ShotDown #SteveSnyder
A well researched and informative account of the B17 crew
This is a great book. The author Steve Snyder tells the story of his father Howard Snyder who was the B-17 pilot that was shot down in February 1944 on the French/Belgium border.
I was very impressed with this excellently written book, it was full of facts, very informative and gave great insight to what it must have been like during that time.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in WWII history.
Steve Snyder has written a remarkable book based on his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder. Using letters, journals, stories, and interviews, the author was able to share this significant part of history.
Lt. Howard Snyder was shot down in a B-17 during WWII over Nazi occupied Europe. We learn how they were rescued and hidden from Nazi capture after the plane went down and that we have some French and Belgium civilians to thank for lending themselves to save the crew members of planes that were shot down.
The author wasn’t afraid to use details to paint the reality of what people were going through, of what it as like being shot down out of the sky, to learn what the Germans did to captured soldiers… It may be difficult, but it’s important to know and understand what actually happened.
Accounting for the horrors of war is an important task and one that should be done with accuracy and detail, the author went above and beyond in these areas.
Better than any history book, this real life account is told in an honorable manner toward all those who served and sacrificed.
Shot down is an amazing, detailed, informative novel that has been wonderfully written by Steve Snyder. He has done an excellent job telling his fathers story. This book is very well researched, informative as well as entertaining, and also is an easy read. Steve has put his heart and soul into writing this novel and it really shows all the way through.
Anyone who has an interest in WWII would really enjoy this book. This is a truly great story. Don’t miss out. Fantastic job.
Steve Snyder is the son of B-17 pilot Howard Snyder who was shot down in February of 1944 on the French/Belgium border. Two members of the crew of 10 were killed in the plane, some rescued and in hiding, some captured. The author not only did research to learn what happened to his father, but also the rest of the crew. He contacted a German man who was one of the pilots who shot down the Susan Ruth (which was named for the Lt. Snyder’s daughter).
Howard Snyder was part of the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, stationed in England. I learned about their living conditions there, and also an explanation of the amazing combat formations for the hundreds of bombers sent on each mission. Snyder was kept hidden by brave Belgians.
Paul Delahaye was a child in Belgium when the Nazis overran that nation. He was 13 when the Americans forced out the Germans and he met the Americans who freed them. He made it his mission to make sure the Americans are never forgotten, building memorials and starting museums. Howard Snyder kept in touch with his rescuers and even visited there, also meeting Paul Delahaye. A remarkable and complete history.
I was really fascinated by this book. Not something I would usually pick up but the diary entries and emotive elements of the book drew me in. I’ve always found it easier to take in information and really identify with the story when personal accounts come into play and this book certainly has a lot to teach. Fantastic amounts of information and facts brought to life by the fathers writings. Definitely worth the read.
The author of Shot Down is the son of Lieutenant Howard Snyder, and thanks to a series of letters, historians and so many interviews; Steve Snyder is able to gather information regarding B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth during World War II and give us this amazing history.
Every detail in this book is giving so many emotions, besides the facts, which History books gives us; there are the tales from the ones who survived all those moments. The fear, the heartache, the broken families, the struggle to be at war while being away from everything they loved. This book is vivid, besides the great honor of the author towards his father, he has a great sense for details. And I recommend this book to anyone.
Ok so this is not my usual read however i stumbled across this and gave it a go as its more of a biography than my usual fiction reading, anyhow one word WOW!!! I loved this absolute page turner that had me gripped from the very beginning.
Author Snyder really has done his Father justice here. I felt so moved by this book, and also another plus is learning so much factional information about the war!! I really, really enjoyed this especially as it isn’t something i would normally read.
Steve Snyder in my opinion has done an amazing job with the telling of his fathers story, the book has been very well written and thoroughly researched and I found it to be very informative too. Shot down is an easy to read and easy to follow book, which will appeal to anyone who has an interest in WWII. Highly recommended. 4 stars
A well researched and informative account of the B17 crew
This is a great book. The author Steve Snyder tells the story of his father Howard Snyder who was the B-17 pilot that was shot down in February 1944 on the French/Belgium border.
I was very impressed with this excellently written book, it was full of facts, very informative and gave great insight to what it must have been like during that time.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in WW11 history.
Shot Down by Steve Snyder
Not a real war reader but enjoyed this one as it spoke of the war with our US bombers and what they went through overseas.
Liked how they talk about what things they are not able to get and I can compare with what is available in the states at the same time.
Day to day, hour to day details of the days flying, bombing, debriefings and meetings of strategy.
Also with letters from his wife in the US we find out how she’s doing with her latest pregnancy.
Enjoyed the pictures along the way also.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
The further we get away from the Second World War, the more at risk we are of forgetting the stories of the individual men and women who performed astonishing acts of bravery not only for their country but for those they loved at home. ‘Shot Down’ by Steve Snyder is one the stories that should be remembered. The true story of the B-17 Susan Anthony that was shot down in 1944 was written using the letters and journals of those involved. As a result, you get an authentic and personal tale, that is harrowing and confronting. When reading you do feel like you are in the midst of the conflict that changed not just our world and a whole, but also the world and outlook of individuals.
A great tribute by Steve Snyder to his father, the other individuals of the B-17 Susan Ruth, and the brave Belgians who risked so much to help the stricken. A compelling and convincing true story that is not just for history buffs.
I have a real interest in reading true stories, the more interesting and unique the better. So I was drawn to the story of Lieutenant Howard Snyder during his time on the Susan Ruth which was essentially a flying fortress that was shot down in 1944. Through his own personal tale of survival during the Second World War, you learn so much about how the conflict affected not just one man, but also families, soldiers in other armies, and the atrocities that took place that so many found so hard to forget. ‘Shot Down’ is the true story of a remarkable man written by his son Steve Snyder, constructed from letters and journals of those her were there.
I urge everyone to read this book, or others like it as it is so important to remember what so many people went through to ensure that we live in a free world today. We should never let the memories of those who served in World War II to fade, and books like this will help prevent that.
It always takes me time to get into “true” stories because I usually find the writing hard to follow. There’s something about fiction that grabs you, no matter how realistic. This one, though? I was hooked. Snyder does a great job of recreating Howard’s adventures. The writing is phenomenal, and as many other reviews have stated, this book gets raw. Heartache, death, and danger are all incorporated masterfully, and without pulling any punches. It’s hard to have such a raw experience in print, but even harder to have such an experience touch a reader in a tangible way.
The best part of this book, in my opinion, is the collection of people Snyder decided to write about, and how dedicated he was to ensuring everything was correct.
This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story, fiction or otherwise.
`It is our duty to remember’
California author Steve Snyder studied and gained his BA in Economics at UCLA, using that training in national sales and sales management. Since retiring he has focused his fascination with World War II history, especially those of his father, pilot Howard Snyder and his crew of the B-17, Susan Ruth, named after his older sister. After nearly five years of research he penned SHOT DOWN, and for an `amateur historian’ he has won awards and applause form distinguished authors and historians and he now participates in many World War II associations, in addition to being Vice President of the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association. In 1994 and 2004 he participated in the Anniversaries of the Liberation of Belgium. All of this comes home in this immensely interesting history of an important event too few of us know.
Not only has Steve achieved a meticulously researched book, recreating this moment of military history when on February 8, 1944 The B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Roth was shot down, landing in Belgium, but he also molds an empathetic novel that allows the reader to be there, terrified and surviving along side men we come to know through Steve’s exceptional writing. SHOT DOWN Shot Down was created from the vast number of letters and journals of Howard Snyder; diaries of men and women on the ground who rescued, sheltered and hid the crew; and interviews conducted by historians. The build up to the tragedy details training tactics, the increasing tension of the war as it built toward 1944, and the aftermath of the downing of the plane under the beneficent care of Lt. Howard Synder. There is more information here about the underground support of US troops in Europe and the interaction between the citizens of Belgium and the crews of airmen whom they aided in providing protection and friendship.
Another aspect that makes this book so very fine is the inclusion of many photographs taken during the war, from intimate images of the crew members to planes in flight to battles to images of telegrams and letters – Steve covers his story pictorially as well as with the written word. This book is a film waiting to be optioned, one of the war films that hopefully will encourage us never to forget the valor of the fighting forces not only in WW II, but in all wars where men and women offer their lives for their country. Highly Recommended.
A PORTION OF THE BLURB FROM GOODREADS:
For the first time, the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth is shared in unbelievable detail. Author Steve Snyder’s story of his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder, and the Susan Ruth crew, provides in-depth details about many aspects of World War II few understand or know about including the:
• separation for young families as men went off to war;
• training before heading to foreign soil;
• military combat operations;
• underground and resistance and what Lt. Snyder did when he joined it;
• German atrocities toward captured crew and civilians;
• behind-the-scenes stories of the Belgium civilians who risked all to save American flyers who were in the air one moment, spiraling down in flames the next;
• creation and dedication of the monument to the Susan Ruth and its crew located in Macquenoise, Belgium in 1989
Shot Down was created from the vast number of letters and journals of Howard Snyder; diaries of men and women on the ground who rescued, sheltered and hid the crew; and interviews conducted by historians. Centered around the 306th Bomb Group in Thurleigh, England, it is informative, insightful and captivating.
Quote from the book:
This book is a nonfiction, hstorical documentary. Every incident about te crew members has been taken from personal letters, interviews, declassified mmilitary records, and verbal and written by the people who were involved 70 years ago.
Shot Down is a compelling read. It is full of interesting facts and tidbits as to how the pilot and crew man the planes during this difficult time in history. The author began his research with the diaries and letters of his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder, the pilot of the Susan Ruth, a B17 bomber, and other reference materials, including previous books and even films made about that time. Indeed, a well-researched book.
This is the first book of this type for me. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to read it. There were many, many things about the war that I was not aware of. The diaries, photographs and letters that Howard and other crew members wrote to their families were just so tender and sad. This helped to show the humanity that existed behind the war. Kudos for Steve Snyder for presenting things in this manner.
It’s been a while since I read a book about war despite them being a big passion of mine years ago. I’m not even sure what enticed me to read Shot Down, but I’m so glad I did. Maybe because of the author’s father being a focus for the exploits in the book gave a extra edge to the writing, but it has now given me the urge to read further books on the second World War and others. I don’t think you need a background of war reading to appreciate this either, as I also found it very accessible.
This is the true story of US pilot Howard Snyder and his crewmen who were aboard the Susan Ruth, an aircraft named after his eldest daughter and wife’s names. This book started off slow and honestly I found it harder to grasp the military world and all its equipment terms and jargon but I pushed on hoping for the best to come. While in the first half of the book, I learned about Snyder’s life at the U.S. military base in England. His son who is the author of this book describes how the living situation was like: there was booze, parties, girls (British), letters from home, and American media to name a few that served as coping mechanisms for the young soldiers who were new to Europe and the concept of being away from home. Snyder often wrote to his wife Ruth promising his loyalty to her and conveying his best wishes to her and their daughter Susan. The second part of the book focused more on the brutal and grueling experiences of Snyder and his fellow American crewmen who survived the crash of the B-17, Susan Ruth, which was a four-engine heavy bomber that was developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corp. This was when the excitement and the readability of the book set off for me, making me enjoy the book for the first time as I absorbed with sadness and shock the heroic way certain compassionate Europeans looked after some of them and the gruesome details of the harsh treatment the other half got from the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police). It is upon reading these parts of the book that I mentally thanked the Lord for the current peaceful state of the United States as I know in my heart that I would not brave such situations if they occurred to me and my loved ones in this day and age.
I admired Howard Snyder’s courage and level of endurance throughout the book. It was a wrench to my heart when I read that some of his crewmen who were taken hostage by the Gestapo were lined up and mercilessly shot in their backs. It was soothing and pleasing to my senses when I later found out that they were given proper burial after the war by the US military. This was a well-researched book and at the end, the author lists all of the books he used as sources for the vast information that is included in it. I applaud Steve for the excellent way he wrote this book, featuring a plethora of black and white photos and data essential for projects having to do with World War II. Howard Snyder and his fellow crewmen are what you would call, true American heroes because they went through so much misery and pain to bring about peace and freedom for the world and those who inhabited the countries that Hitler and his Nazis planned to enslave and subject to genocide. I am so glad that I was given this book to read and review because I then could feel and look through the eyes of these heroic American men and the Europeans who had to suffer through World War II. One can acquire an admirable interest in the notable Howard Snyder, his contemporaries, his relatives, and of course the Susan Ruth aircraft that plays a crucial part in this eventful read.
I can tell you now that this is a reliable source for a school project of yours if you are a student looking for information on World War II. If you are someone who is interested in the United States’ role in World War II then look no further than this book.. Be delighted that this book has useful photos of the men it’s about. The sufferings are not described in graphic detail so rest assured. I read this book in five days but you could read it in four days or less because I had a few tasks I needed to work on while I was reading this book. As a final word, I would like to thank and salute Howard Snyder, his Susan Ruth crewmen, and the multitudes of soldiers from the US and its allies for their work and efforts during World War II and any other war that succeeded or preceded it.
This book being written by the son of Howard Snyder couldn’t be more perfect in giving a real life insight into the personal afflictions brought about by the 2nd World War. What better way to highlight the psychological impact both directly and indirectly than with first hand accounts. From relationships to processes and preparation, and an abundance of information, bringing real life emotion and historical fact together to create a book to teach as well as revive the memory and emotions attached to the subject.