pp. 216 (No dustjacket, name on half-title, underlining on title list of prelims.) #061121
From biggles.info: The first edition has either red or blue boards (it appears both coloured boards were issued in November 1954) and says “Kingston Library” on the spine.
This contains thirteen short stories, eleven of which were originally published in THE CAMELS ARE COMING (1932) and two of which (The Thought Reader and Biggles Finds His Feet) were originally published in BIGGLES OF THE CAMEL SQUADRON (1934).
The stories are:-
ABOUT PIONEER AIR COMBAT (a short essay by W. E. Johns)
HOW BIGGLES WAS “BORN” (a short essay by W. E. Johns)
THE CARRIER
Biggles’ propeller kills a carrier pigeon but Biggles finds the message and goes to rescue a spy.
SPADS AND SPANDAUS
Biggles and his squadron join up with some Americans for a major air battle with the Germans.
THE ZONE CALL
A captured German pilot tricks Biggles, but he realises in time to foil a German attack.
THE DECOY
When Biggles loses one of his pilots to a German trick he goes all out to get the plane responsible.
THE BOOB
Biggles first meets a new pilot who happens to be his cousin and whose Christian name is Algernon.
THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS
Algy takes revenge when a German raid on the Squadron’s aerodrome destroys his garden.
THE THOUGHT-READER
Biggles discovers a German plane receiving secret signals from a spy using corn in a field.
BIGGLES FINDS HIS FEET
Engine trouble forces Biggles down in ‘no-man’s-land’ where he has a taste of trench warfare.
THE BOMBER
Biggles attacks a heavily defended new German bomber and has to devise a way to shoot it down.
ON LEAVE
Biggles is forced to take leave but manages to shoot down 2 German seaplanes that bomb the UK.
FOG!
Biggles gets lost in fog and is shocked to discover he has landed by a German gas supply dump.
AFFAIRE DE COEUR
Biggles meets the love of his life, Marie Janis, only to discover that she is a spy.
THE LAST SHOW
Biggles gets promoted to Major and is shot down only to discover the armistice has been signed.