Shot Down: The True Story of Pilot Howard Snyder and the Crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth

Set within the framework of World War II in Europe, SHOT DOWN is a true story about the dramatic experiences of each member of a B-17 bomber crew after their plane was knocked out of the sky by two German Focke-Wulf fighters over the French Belgian border and about the courageous Belgian patriots who risked their lives to help them. Some crewmen died. Some were captured and became prisoners of war. Some evaded capture temporarily but were betrayed, captured, and murdered. Some, including the author's father Howard Snyder, evaded capture and were missing in action for seven months until Belgium was liberated. The stories are all different and are all remarkable

Through personal letters, oral and written accounts, declassified military records, and interviews (including the German Luftwaffe pilot who shot down the plane), the stories of the crewmen come alive. Increasing the enjoyment of the stories are more than 200 time period photographs of the people who were involved and the places where the events took place.

Even before the dramatic battle in the air on February 8, 1944 and the subsequent harrowing events on the ground, the book is informative and insightful. It chronicles the crew's training, their journey to England, life while stationed with the 306th Bomb Group, and their treacherous combat missions. Adding background and context, many historical facts and anecdotes about the war are woven throughout the book which provide a feel for and understanding of what was occurring on a broader scale..

In 1989, a memorial to the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth (named after Howard Snyder's one year daughter) was dedicated at Macquenoise, Belgium where the plane crashed down. Every year celebrations are held to honor and remember those brave young airmen who are now gone but not forgotten.