Lightning Down

More about the book

The incredible true story of fighter pilot Joe Moser unfolds during World War II, detailing his harrowing experiences in the sky and at Buchenwald. On August 13, 1944, Moser embarked on his 44th combat mission over occupied France, only to become one of nearly 170 Allied airmen imprisoned in one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. This riveting narrative reveals Moser's journey from a 22-year-old farmboy from Washington State, who dreamed of flying, to a pilot of the formidable P-38 Lightning, a key asset against the German Luftwaffe. After bailing out of his burning plane, he was captured and thrust into a nightmarish existence. Alongside fellow prisoners from various nations, Moser faced unimaginable horrors and the looming threat of execution ordered by Hitler. Their survival hinged on a desperate plan. The gripping pace of this story resembles a thriller, yet it is rooted in the true accounts of these brutalized airmen, vividly portrayed through Moser's distinctly American voice as he clings to hope of reuniting with his family. This inspiring saga showcases the bravery of men confronting immense evil and the odds stacked against their survival.