'Young Man - You'll Never Die': A World War II Fighter Pilot in North Africa, Burma & Malaya

During World War II, Merton Naydler served in the RAF for six years, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes in North Africa, Burma, and Malaya. This memoir depicts the challenging wartime conditions in the desert, including sand, flies, and life under canvas. When posted to Burma, he faced Japanese Zeroes in the dense tropical jungle, experiencing intense heat and humidity. The book recounts his experiences as a sergeant pilot, learning his trade in action over Africa and honing his combat skills in the skies over Japanese-held tropical forests.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Merton Naydler enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the age of nineteen and served for the next six years, until May 1946. During his tour of duty, he flew Spitfires and Hurricanes to North Africa, Burma, and Malaya. This well-written and highly entertaining memoir vividly portrays wartime life in the desert environment, where sand, flies, and life under canvas made living and flying a daunting experience. When the author was posted to Burma, he felt a deep and genuine dread. After a long and uncomfortable journey, he joined 11 Squadron and encountered Japanese Zeroes in combat over dense tropical jungles rather than Bf 109s over barren desert terrain.

Daytime flying was scorching hot, with intense humidity. The author's description of his new posting continues to describe life in Death Valley, named for its high likelihood of falling victim to tropical disease rather than enemy aircraft. This is the story of a sergeant pilot who learned his trade the hard way, in action over Africa, and then honed his combat skills in the skies over Japanese-held tropical forests, where he was eventually commissioned.

Weight: 350g
Dimension: 155 x 240 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399020329