BIGGLES of the Special Air Police

pp. 183. Vintage 1960s? (no date) Reprint

This contains thirteen short stories, the first six of which are ‘Special Air Police’ stories.  These ‘Special Air Police’ stories were usually published in various annuals and periodicals,

however no original publication details of these six stories are known.  It is possible that they were written purely for this collection.

The next six stories are Royal Flying Corps stories which were originally published in the very first Biggles book THE CAMELS ARE COMING (1932)

The last story is a Royal Flying Corps story from elsewhere (details below).

The stories are:-

THE CASE OF THE BLACK GAUNTLET

Biggles is asked to do some stunt flying for a film but someone has an old score to settle with him.

 This story was never published elsewhere

THE CASE OF THE MANDARIN’S TREASURE CHEST )

Biggles and Co. travel to China to recover a treasure chest.

(The character of Wung Ling from this story was to reappear in the 1952 Biggles book BIGGLES FOLLOWS ON)

 This story was never published elsewhere

THE CASE OF THE LOST SOULS

A man complains of ghosts and Biggles suspects a smuggler is responsible.

This story was never published elsewhere

THE CASE OF THE TOO SUCCESSFUL COMPANY

Biggles is suspicious of Air Mobility Enterprises Limited and soon uncovers a smuggling racket.

 This story was never published elsewhere

THE CASE OF THE WHITE LION (A trip to Africa is called for, to hunt down the animal of the title, which is scaring local natives.

 This story was never published elsewhere

THE CASE OF THE REMARKABLE PERFUME

Orchids in the South American jungle are the objective in this story, on account of their scent.

 This story was never published elsewhere

BIGGLES THEN AND NOW  (a short essay by W. E. Johns) THE NEXT SIX STORIES ARE REPRINTS OF THE FIRST EVER BIGGLES STORIES FROM “THE CAMELS ARE COMING” PUBLISHED IN 1932 SO I HAVE ADDED FAR MORE DETAIL

THE WHITE FOKKER

The first ever Biggles story introduces Biggles in the following way, “a slight, fair haired, good looking lad still in his ‘teens, but an acting Flight-Commander”. He has “deep-set hazel eyes” which hold a “glint of yellow fire”. His hands are “small and delicate as a girl’s”. The story also introduces us to Major Mullen, the C.O. of Biggles’ Squadron and to MacLaren and Mahoney, two other Flight-Commanders. The Fokker D.VII of the title shoots down Norman when he is about to land. Various traps are set to get the Fokker and eventually Biggles shoots it down. This is the first “kill” we read about for Biggles although we are told in the story earlier that he has killed “six men during the past month – or was it a year? – he had forgotten”.