Steve Snyder | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Born in Pasadena, California, Steve Snyder graduated from UCLA and during the Vietnam War years served six years in the California Army National Guard. In 1972, he moved to Seal Beach, California where he lives today. In 2009, he retired from Vision Service Plan (VSP) after a 36 year career working in sales and sales management.

Soon after retirement, Steve began his quest to learn more about the World War II experiences of his father, pilot Howard Snyder, and his crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth. It became his passion, and after 4 ½ years of dedicated research, resulted in book, SHOT DOWN, which has won 20 national book awards. One result of his new career as a World War II historian is that he is a member of numerous World War II organizations and is President of the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association.

Current position (1)

President

306th Bomb Group Historical Association

Degrees (1)

Economics

UCLA

1965 to 1969

Presentations

Presentations (1)

SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth

Winner of 20 national book awards, SHOT DOWN is set within the framework of World War II in Europe and recounts the dramatic experiences of each member of a ten man B-17 bomber crew after their plane, piloted by the author's father, was knocked out of the sky by German fighters over the French/Belgium border on February 8,1944.

Some men died. Some were captured and became prisoners of war. Some men evaded capture and were missing in action for months before making it back to England. Their individual stories and those of the courageous Belgian people who risked their lives to help them are all different and are all remarkable.

Through personal letters, oral and written accounts, declassified military documents, and interviews – all from people who took part in the events that happened over 70 years ago (even the German Luftwaffe pilot who shot down the Susan Ruth) - the stories come alive.