Lightning Down

A World War II Story of Survival

De: Tom Clavin

Narrado por: George Newbern

An American fighter pilot doomed to die in Buchenwald but determined to survive.

On August 13, 1944, Joe Moser set off on his forty-fourth combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Tom Clavin's Lightning Down tells this largely untold and riveting true story.

Moser was just twenty-two years old, a farm boy from Washington State who fell in love with flying. During the War he realized his dream of piloting a P-38 Lightning, one of the most effective weapons the Army Air Corps had against the powerful German Luftwaffe. But on that hot August morning he had to bail out of his damaged, burning plane. Captured immediately, Moser’s journey into hell began.

Moser and his courageous comrades from England, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere endured the most horrific conditions during their imprisonment... until the day the orders were issued by Hitler himself to execute them. Only a most desperate plan would save them.

The page-turning momentum of Lightning Down is like that of a thriller, but the stories of imprisoned and brutalized airmen are true and told in unforgettable detail, led by the distinctly American voice of Joe Moser, who prays every day to be reunited with his family.

Lightning Down is a can’t-put-it-down inspiring saga of brave men confronting great evil and great odds against survival.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

Another great book from Clavin

Lightning Down by Tom Clavin

Folks, I sure enjoy Tom Clavin’s writing about World War II. Just as he did in his outstanding submarine book from earlier this year, Clavin once again digs deep to find a compelling tale—and then researches and writes the hell out of it! Lightning Down is one of those rare WWII histories that reminds you exactly why the men and women of that era are so often called the Greatest Generation.

The focus here is Joe Moser, an American farm boy who becomes a P-38 Lightning pilot. After flying many successful missions, Moser is shot down over German-occupied France. What follows is a descent into unimaginable hardship: capture, interrogation, and ultimately imprisonment in the notorious concentration camp of Buchenwald. This is where his journey to hell truly begins.

One thing I didn’t expect: how much I would learn about the German SS and the early origins of the Nazi Party. Clavin seamlessly weaves in the historical context without ever slowing down the narrative. Those sections add depth and a chilling reminder of the brutality that shaped Moser’s ordeal.

And yet—this book is also about camaraderie, stubborn hope, and the sheer force of will it takes to survive. Clavin presents Moser’s story with empathy, tension, and a storyteller’s flair that kept me flipping pages long after I should’ve turned off the light. It’s a gripping, emotional read that honors the courage of fighter pilots and the resilience of ordinary young men thrust into extraordinary circumstances.

If you’re a WWII reader—or even if you just enjoy a beautifully crafted narrative about endurance, history, and character—this is one to pick up. A powerful, unforgettable page-turner. Highly recommended. Immersive:digital/audio

Great retelling

The things the men of WWII endured always leave me in awe of the human spirit to fight and survive. Very well written and read. Tom Clavin has become a favorite author.

Amazing!

Heroic story of a man who’s trials were unbelievable to many. True hero and amazing man!

This book will make you understand how much ch our freedom costs

Well written and researched, the details wrapped around you in a time warp of what life was line during this critical time of our nation and the world.
Today few people really understand the sacrifices and terrible conditions faced by victims and survivors of this concentration camps.
Understanding how these brave people survived and prosperous in later years, not becoming victims but humble loving people.
Read as well as listen to the book, I encourage you to watch the documentaries referred to in the epilogue

Inspiring

Excellent story. Well written and performed. The story of the brave and resilient airmen of WWII is inspiring. Giving perspective on the value of life and liberty through their harrowing experience of being held prisoner by the Nazis in Buchenwald concentration camp. An excellent example of bravery to be shared with generations after the war.