Hans G. Berger 1944
In 1944, Luftwaffe pilot, Hans Berger, shot down my father’s B-17. Today in 2014, my youngest son had lunch with Hans Berger!
On February 8, 1944, two Focke-Wulf 190 German fighter planes attacked the 306th Bomb Group B-17 Susan Ruth over the French/Belgian border. All three planes were shot down. Among the survivors were 28 year old Susan Ruth pilot, Howard Snyder, and Luftwaffe pilot, Hans Berger.
70 years later, my 27-year-old son, Clayton Snyder, met with 90-year-old Hans Berger in Munich, Germany. They had lunch together and then went to Hans’ house where Clayton presented him with a copy of my book, Shot Down, which includes Hans’ unique perspective about the air war in Europe.
Like many of the stories in my recently released book, truth is stranger than fiction!
I wish I could have been present myself, but I am in Colorado Springs, CO to attend the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association Reunion.
Salute!
Thanks
Amazing story… bless all of them. Unless anyone was in their shoes (cockpit) to experience the unadulterated fear, they have no place to say anything negative about what our forefathers on all sides did.
Well said, Tom. If you are interested, please check out my book SHOT DOWN. On Amazon at http://bit.ly/ShotDownBook Thank you for your consideration. Take care and God bless.
Just finished reading your book for the second time. Huge amount of details and photos! Well done! Do you know if Berger wrote a book about his time during the war?
Thank you very much, Shannon. Much appreciated. No, he didn’t, but I am in the process of writing a short story about him.
Hello Steve .
I was lucky enough to speak with you in Reading Pa on Friday at the WW2 weekend along with my daughter.
I am ordering the book today and wanted to tell you that your kindness and amazing story mean a lot to my daughter and I.
Thanks
Brian Schiavo
Thank you very much, Brian. I greatly appreciate it. Please let me know how you like it. Take care and God bless. Steve