by Steve Snyder | Aug 15, 2014 | Historical
The 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the Liberation of Belgium will take place over a six-day period beginning August 29 through September 3. On August 31, the festivities include a Liberation Walk, followed by a tour of the Chimay Chateau, then going to Cendron where...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 15, 2014 | Historical
Louis J. Colwart Jr. was the ball turret gunner on the Susan Ruth. He was born in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana and enlisted at Houma, Louisiana on November 25, 1942. After bombing Frankfurt, Germany on February 8, 1944, the Susan Ruth was attacked by two German...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 14, 2014 | Historical
After receiving an initial shipment of my book, Shot Down, from the printer, my wife, Glenda, and I celebrated by opening a bottle of champagne.
by Steve Snyder | Aug 12, 2014 | Historical
My book, Shot Down, is published! After 4 1/2 years and countless hours of dedicated work, I have completed my mission to tell the incredible World War II story of the B-17 Susan Ruth crew, and of the brave Belgian patriots who risked their lives to help them. A...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 8, 2014 | Historical
A recent article, Les préparatifs du 70e de la Libération, (Preparations for the 70th Liberation of Belgium), appeared in the regional Belgian newspaper, l’avenir (The Future). It was about the work being done on several World War II memorials in the area of...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 6, 2014 | Historical
In doing research for my book, Shot Down, I visited a multitude of websites in my search for information about the air war in Europe during World War II. One of the best sites I came across is one of the 303rd Bomb Group whose nickname was “Hell’s...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 5, 2014 | Historical
After my father’s B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down and crashed at Macquenoise, Belgium on February 8, 1944, two small cross necklaces were made out of the plexiglass from the plane, named the Susan Ruth after my oldest sister who was one year old went my...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 3, 2014 | Historical
Like all bomber crews, the ten members of the Susan Ruth came from varied places and backgrounds. The crew was in the 369th Bomb Squadron, nicknamed “Fightin’ Bitin”, of the 306th Bomb Group, stationed at Thurleigh, England from October 21, 1943...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 2, 2014 | Historical
John Pindroch from Cleveland, Ohio was a waist gunner on my father’s B-17 Susan Ruth crew. After the Susan Ruth was shot down on February 8, 1944, John and 7 other U.S. airmen were betrayed by collaborators and captured and shot by the Germans at Saint Remy,...
by Steve Snyder | Aug 1, 2014 | Historical
From August 28 through September 3, the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the Liberation of Belgium will be held in and around Chimay. Band concerts, military vehicle parade, memorabilia fair, religious service, fly over, liberation walk, lunches, receptions, dances,...
by Steve Snyder | Jul 24, 2014 | Historical
The Sedona Red Rock News ran an article about my book, Shot Down in their July 24 edition. It’s very nice, except it refers to the Dutch when all the events took place in Belgium, and Dr. Delahaye’s first name is Paul, not Bill. The Sedona Red Rock News is...
by Steve Snyder | Jul 23, 2014 | Historical
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are combining to produce a 10 hour HBO series on the Mighty Eighth Air Force based on the book, Masters of the Air, written by Don Miller. The series will air in 2015 and be similar to previous HBO shows Band of Brothers and The Pacific,...
by Steve Snyder | Jul 22, 2014 | Historical
A short follow up and video to The Flying Legends Air Show. Imperial War Museum Duxford is located in Duxford near Cambridgeshire, England and is Britain’s largest aviation museum; housing nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels...
by Steve Snyder | Jul 19, 2014 | Historical
Approximately every two minutes, a World War II veteran dies; a rate of over 500 a day according to the Veterans Administration. Disappearing along with them are their stories of dedication, sacrifice, honor, bravery, tragedy, and triumph during the greatest conflict...
by Steve Snyder | Jul 13, 2014 | Historical
Follow up-to yesterday’s post about the Flying Legends Air Show at IWM Duxford, UK. This is awesome.
