First Edition. pp. 188 coloured plates (no dustjacket) #280824

(from biggles.info) Air Commodore Raymond approaches Biggles, Algy, Ginger and Bertie with an interesting proposition. Now that the Second World War had ended, he could use good pilots in a new force he is forming as Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard. This force would be used to combat flying crooks. The formation of a force would take some time, and there was a pressing matter to deal with and that is where our heroes come in. Biggles would be offered the rank of Detective-Sergeant. Raymond informs Biggles of a spate of air related robberies involving the taking of various jewels. Biggles and the gang agree to take the job. Biggles soon realises that in order to have carried out the crimes, the planes involved would have had to have had exceptional speed and range. Enquiries lead the team to a German Airfield at Augsburg where two prototype aircraft designed by a man called Renkell have disappeared. At Augsburg, a number of clues lead Biggles to a desert oasis at El Zufra. The villains are using this as a refuelling dump and have laid land mines around the actual oasis making it a treacherous location. Bertie follows the villains and soon further investigation discovers their main base in a Sanseviera jungle in Abyssinia. Landing nearby, Biggles and Co have to investigate on foot. This leads to disaster and a final air battle is fought between Biggles in his hi-tech “Spur” aeroplane and the prototypes.