Shot Down: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth Paperback – February 8, 2017

I am a lifelong avid reader & have enjoyed hundreds of highly diverse authors of all genres (of course I've also suffered through some real sewage hoping foolishly to find that lost pearl) so I am not quick to get overly excited about anything without good cause, especially given the unfortunate reality in today's climate which dictates that EVERYONE IS AWESOME in some damn way or some such silliness. I write this due to a profound disappointment which is that when I went to purchase more books by this incredible author . . . there weren't any! WHAT? Steve Snyder has written THE MOST INFORMATIVE TRUE STORY that I have ever read. This is the highly detailed account of THE SUSAN RUTH B-17. Being an Air Force Veteran & enthusiast since childhood I am delighted by intricately written documentation revealing facts & even procedures that have eluded me for nearly 50 years! A brilliantly light treatment to a nightmarishly horrific situation in time made this SOLID GOLD! BRAVO SIR! BRAVO!

Shot Down is an extraordinarily comprehensive, superbly researched, and brilliantly told true story by Steve Snyder! Snyder superbly follows the story of his father’s service in World War II as a pilot of the B-17 Susan Ruth bomber. But where Snyder really shines is in his exquisite detail and descriptions of not just the motives, fears, growth, leadership, losses, victories, and love exhibited by his father, but of the many colorful characters involved, including the B-17 crewmen, the Belgian and French underground resistors, and the German enemy and their local Belgian and French conspirators. Steve Snyder's range of understanding and grasp of the tactical, operational, strategic, and presidential levels of warfighting and air combat are exceptional. This beautiful, fast-paced, and emotive story is the perfect written complement to Steven Spielberg’s screen series masterpiece, Masters of the Air. I highly recommend it!

"Shot Down" chronicles the story of the B-17 "Susan Ruth" and its crew. Written by the son of the pilot, Howard Snyder, this book gives the reader an inside look at the Eighth Air Force as it grew from a small force to the greatest air armada of World War II.Snyder and his crew went through training in the United States before being sent overseas. Once in Great Britain, they were attached to the 369th squadron of the 306th bomb group. Missions over Germany soon followed.In February, 1944, the Susan Ruth was shot down by enemy fighters. This was the beginning of a seven month odyssey for Howard, who jumped from the burning plane along with eight others of the crew. Howard eventually joined the Belgian resistance to fight back against the Germans. With the help of numerous Belgian civilians, Howard managed to make it out alive."Shot Down" is a fine book. Not only does author Steve Snyder tell his father's story, he also tells the story of the build-up of the Eighth Air Force. The reader not only learns about the bombing missions, but other ares, including flying in combat, training, and the problems faced while trying to return to base. I've read several books about the Eighth Air Force, and "Shot Down" is a worthy addition to its history. Highly recommended.

Steve Snyder's WWII true story 'Shot Down' is an invigorating read. It's a snapshot of one of tens of thousands of bomber crews who served in the 8th Air Force in Europe. The story encapsulates how fragile and dangerous the lifespan of the aircraft and flight crews really were. As a retired Air Force aircrew member I was able to relate to the missions detailed in the book, in particular the affect of the altitude, turbulence, and struggle to control an injured aircraft must have been like. The struggle to survive in flight and on the ground afterwards was very compelling and enlightening. Excellent read and very informative! Our WWII veterans truly sacrificed for their country and families.

This is an excellent book written from the perspective of the crews that were actually there and fought the war. Mr. Snyder writes about his father who flew B-17 missions as well as fought on the ground with the Maquis after being shot down and evading capture. The story tells about the brave Belgians who resisted the Nazis in helping downed American airmen, something that I had not read much about before. I highly recommend this book to any WWII enthusiast.