Shot Down!: When His Bomber Explodes over Nazi-occupied France, Only John Survives-- And Finds a New Life

by John M. Curnow

It's said that in a POW camp, only 25 percent of the prisoners are interested in escaping, and only 5 percent are what is known as “dedicated escapers.” John Curnow was one of the 5 percent. When he lied about his age and joined the Royal Air Force at age 17, John didn't know that the life expectancy of an RAF crewman flying over enemy territory was calculated in weeks, not years. After his plane exploded, he suddenly found himself riding a parachute down to German-occupied France—the sole survivor among his crewmates. In the pages of SHOT DOWN you'll experience what it was like to ride in a Lancaster bomber dodging searchlights, flak, and night fighters. And you'll know how it felt to look down the muzzle of an enemy's rifle and realize you were now a prisoner of war. John Curnow was as determined as anyone on earth to have and defend freedom. Time and again he escaped his captors. But after each escape he found himself held captive again. After the war, bad habits and a fast-paced life going nowhere held him. Then one day his arm seemed to be shackled. When his hand refused to turn off the quartet singing “Lift Up the Trumpet” on the radio, John began to find his way to true, enduring freedom at last.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2006

Reviews

[Adam Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In August of 1940 during the height of the air war known as the Battle of Britain, a 16 year old boy made a spur of the moment decision to join the Royal Air Force. “Shot Down” tells the story of observer/ navigator John Curnow.
The book starts out by detailing the eighteen months of training that leads up to Curnow being assigned as a crew member of a four-engine Halifax heavy bomber. Once on operational status, the crew of D-Donald strives to reach the magical number of thirty missions after which they will be taken off of flight duty. On mission number twenty four, their luck runs out and only Curnow survives when D-Donald is shot down over France.
Curnow tries to evade capture but is taken prisoner almost immediately. After 13 days of questioning, he finally admits that he was a crew member of the shot down plane and the interrogation ends.
The next section of the book tells about Curnow’s imprisonment in several Luft Stalags (POW camps) and the attempts he made to escape.
After the War, Curnow begin working for the Nedeem Tea Company managing plantations in India where he would remain for the next twenty-seven years. It was there that he became a Christian and found the woman who would become his wife. He later became convicted that he should not be involved in the tea business and became a pastor.
I found “Shot Down” a very interesting read that easily held my attention and would recommend it to anyone interested in WWII or the post war tea business.

[Irene Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my Dad flew on an lancaster plane in WW2 this was an good read for me. I found it hard to put it down and read it in a couple of days. The story of one mans courage to survive after losing his 6 flight members. From making attempts to escape and not eating for days on end just made you feel you were there in his mind picturing what he went through.

[Jaclyn Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, with an amazing amount of pertinent details added into an exciting WWII story that includes the power of God to reach someone, saving & changing their life.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really good!

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this story were good. Other parts - not so.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s an interesting story. Unfortunately the writer is good with facts but doesn’t put them into a story very well.