8 Miraculous Months in the Malayan Jungle

This is a well written and very gripping account of the gruelling eight months the author's father spent in the Malayan jungle in 1945. I really enjoyed the book and can highly recommend it.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from BooksGoSocial. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is the story of Major Donald J. Humphrey of the United States Army Air Force who was shot down over Malaya in 1944, right at the end of WW2. The book is his experience, told in his own words as it was transcribed from a series of notebooks by his son. This unique and personal story is quite different to similar memoirs/stories as we have his own words, so really start to understand what was going on in the mind of a man struggling to survive but with the determination to get help for himself & his men. We follow him as he travels through the jungle, wades through leech infested water, crosses swamps, deals with malaria & the death of one of his crew. We discover how the local Malay people, the indigenous Sakai, and a group of Chinese Communists helped the Americans to make the long & difficult journey through the jungle, avoiding the Japanese army who were occupying the area & had a reputation for brutality. Sadly not everyone who helped them survived the war.
There isn’t as much detail as in some other memoirs, yet we really start to understand how the situation/conditions affected them mentally & physically. Ultimately this is a story that needed to be told.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free via Netgalley. Whilst thanks go to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.

#NetGalley # BookReview

Major Donald J. Humphrey, thank you for your service. Major Humphrey's incredible tale of survival and the tale of the heroic acts of others is a real page turner. To survive to many obstacles...having your B-29's wing blown off, falling into enemy territory, surviving and trekking for 8 months in the dense jungle while dealing with hunger, illness, insects, wildlife and the most dangerous predator of all-the human.
These men, and the other men and women who served our country are old now. If you encounter an older person who may be moving slowly and if you find your patience running thin remember this: these people have endured more than the rest of us with our conveniences. Be patient and show your respect. They all deserve it.
#netgalley #8MiracleMonthsInTheMalayanJungle

Interesting book about what a B-29 Bomber Pilot and his crew went thru when they crash landed in the middle of the Malayan Jungle during WWII.
Several were killed upon impact,another died a month later of his injuries and more were missing.There were three,that actually endured 8 months and more than.800 miles of the most ferocious jungle there is.
They did get great help from the natives and wouldn't have survived without it.
They were not taken out of the jungle until.after the Japanese surrendered on August 14th.1945 and were later reunited with four more of their missing crewmen.
I have read many books about WWII but none more in-depth and this is a first for me about the jungle crash.
A big thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book and to the author,which is the son of the downed bomber pilot.

This is the story of an American bombing crew during WWII who were shot down by the Japanese after having hit their target, and sent crashing into the Malayan Jungle.
I found this fascinating to follow their Journey as they tried to stay ahead of the Japanese army, who had watched them come down and were out to find them.
Befriended by the Malayan resistance fighters and local tribes, who did not like the Japanese, they spent 8 months trekking through the jungle from camp, to camp and tribe to tribe. Becoming sick, walking for days in unbearable circumstances, to find a way to be able to radio their location to their allies.
You meet a lot of interesting people on this journey, and feel the warmth of the natives as they take them in and keep them safe, even if they may have different views.
I would like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of this book.

A gripping story of a group of brave young soldiers. This story illuminates the challenges of war from the perspective of the civilians as well. It is a highly detailed story that allows the reader to gain a very precise understanding of the events

If you are looking for a book that is full of "how in the world..." then this is the one for you! Full of adventure, survival, and the fight for life - this book is one that will not leave you disappointed at all!

As a historian, I was blown away by the detail, the descriptions, and the astounding fight to stay alive in the jungle. Absolutely amazing and a perfect read! For fans of WWII, this exciting military adventure, staying alive in a jungle full of Japanese soldiers, their only job - stay alive and make it home.

A very interesting novel about an airman's survival in Malay during WW2. On January 11, 1945, Major Donald J. Humphrey and the crew of his B-29 Superfortress were shot by Japanese Zeroes. The men jumped to safety but were far from safe. They faced malnutrition, disease and dangerous animals in their eight-month quest to escape enemy territory.
This book tells the story of these men. It's a book filled with trauma and drama but also hope. despite being in enemy territory, they were able to conceal themselves with help from friendly communists and natives in the jungle.
I enjoyed reading this engaging story. It moves quickly and doesn't get bogged down in details. Major Donald J. Humphrey and his crew are heroes, and this little-known story is one that needs to be read.

8 Miraculous Months in the Malayan Jungle by by Donald J. "DJ" Humphrey II
Note: This book is written by the survivor’s son.
A story of survival in WW2. His B-29 crashes on a mission... He can’t find all his men... He must survive against the odds to get back to the Allies... An amazing story of survival against the odds with the natives and the Anti-Jap Army. 5 Stars for 8 Miraculous Months in the Malayan Jungle by by Donald J. "DJ" Humphrey II

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I was so pleased to receive a copy of this book to review. This is a true story, written by the father of the author, a true hero in more time. DJ Humphrey’s story was captivating, horrifying, and so interesting to read. I could almost hear the jungle as I read it, I held my breath, praying for each man to make it out of the jungle alive. It is such A miracle that these men survived such an ordeal. That Mr. Humphrey wrote the story to commemorate him his crew, and told the story of the people he met and the horrors they endured is commendable.

It was a wonderful book to read, and so honest and well written.

A thoroughly enjoyable account of the crew of a B-29 bomber shot down whilst on a mission over Malaya.
Quite an amazing tale of survival, spending 8 months in the deep tropical rain-forests in Malaya trying to evade capture by the Japanese. Aided by the communist Chinese and the local indigenous tribes, trekking for hundreds of miles they try to find freedom.
A riveting read, highly recommended.

This is the true story of a WWII pilot's struggle to survive after his plane was shot down over the Malayan jungle. Major Humphrey (Hump) and his crew were on a mission to bomb a naval base in Singapore. They survived the harrowing journey there through treacherous weather and were on their way back to their home base when they came under enemy fire. They subsequently lost multiple engines and had to bail out over the jungle. Hump waited until every one of his crew members was out before he jumped.
A few of his crew jumped out through flames that engulfed the engines, suffering severe burns. After landing he discovered that they were separated. He was able to locate a few of his crew and together they slogged through the jungle, braving the Japanese forces, native tribes, wild animals, insects, hunger, and fatigue. The mission now was to locate a radio so they could contact the Allied forces to let them know they were alive. Their biggest supporters and defenders were the rebel communist army and the native tribes who had never seen a white man before.
Major Humphrey wrote his story down when he returned to the States. He didn't think anyone would want to read it though, and it sat untouched for many years. Once he passed away his son took it upon himself to see his father's story in print. This is an amazing story of survival and determination. If you are interested in history, biographies, or WWII this is a great pick.

A story that remained among his Father’s things and finally re-worked into a manuscript that could be published. Often viewed as a forgotten war it is therefore good that this incredible story can be read by everyone fortunate to pick up this book.

A story of survival against the odds. A bomber crew forced to bail out over enemy held Malaya after a raid on Singapore docks resulted in engine trouble.
The US aircrew were scattered across thick jungle and knew their crash site would alert the Japanese Army. Disorientated, in unfamiliar terrain, unsure of who among the local and indigenous peoples they could trust. This is the story of a time spent fighting injury, overcoming illness, avoiding troops bent on their capture and struggling to find a way to stay alive and get home.

Every step was arduous and fatigue and fever were constant companions. Yet, with the bravery of others helping them the ordeal is wonderfully recounted.
It is one man’s attempt to lead his depleted crew to safety. It is devoid of cliches and self-pity. It carries a message of hope and presents the human spirit as one that perseveres and overcomes. It credits those that helped regardless of their motivation and due to the epic struggle through jungle, off the beaten track, avoiding main lines of communication they zig zag up the country. Avoid patrols they even some tribes who had never seen ‘a white man’.

I thoroughly enjoyed this easy read. From TV and Film I have preconceived ideas of the basic ideas of slogging through jungle, swamps with water up to their necks. The need to remove leeches and the basic dangers. However, this is part of the story only. It is also about the incessant rain, the inevitable battle against diseases like malaria and typhoid, the lack of medical intervention and the trust in herbal and local medicines. Not everyone could survive, they needed to keep moving, inertia inevitably meant death.

Perhaps the author needed time to reflect - it would be interesting to learn more about his life after the War. Perhaps events overtook his story with conflict in Korea and the endless struggles and death in Vietnam that made his story seem less relevant. Yet, it has now been told. It is a remarkable tale of courage, fortitude and resilience. It is packed full of heroes and acts of kindness at great personal risk. It is a struggle within a world war that throws up questions of colonial Britain and empire grabbing Japan.

In a time of COVID it is a heart-warming; life-affirming read that is less about the mechanics of war and more about the basic goodness and inherent sense of shared values. There is less need to travel when we can visit places through the accounts of people who have insights into the people and their land. I also now want to read more about Malaysia.

Fiction is an escape where we catch dreams and let our imaginations fly away. True accounts and stories within recent history can help us see our own vulnerabilities and value life more.

This book lifted my spirits and helped me to understand cultural diversity and appreciate the range and commonality of the peoples the world over.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The hardship these men suffered and their courage and determination to carry on is inspiring.

‘8 Miraculous Months’ is certainly an apt title! Page after page of miracles, I cannot imagine surviving even one of them – I had to keep reminding myself that as it was a true story, the narrator at least had survived to tell the tale. You really couldn’t make it up, especially in such detail. My husband is related to one of the ‘Palembang Nine’, airmen who were beheaded by the Japanese, so this book is almost a ‘what if’ for us – how it might have been for our NZ pilot (as indeed his fate is how it could have been for this US pilot.)
Despite the wealth of books already written about the Second World War, there are obviously still more revelations to come - & this one is well worth your time.

this was a really interesting read, I appreciated Mr. Humphrey II sharing his story. It was a well written memoir and it kept me invested from the start.

Well this is was wild! It's indeed a miracle how they managed to survive in that place and that time, too. I'm thankful of the author for sharing his father's story with us. It's inspiring, the grit that these gentleman have. Their determination to finish their mission and most importantly, survive, is such a great reminder for most, if not all, of us, to keep on going despite the uncertainty of today's fast-paced life.