BIGGLES –

The first edition has either red or blue boards – this one is blue – (it appears both coloured boards were issued in November 1954) a colour frontispiece and says “Kingston Library” on the spine.

The book title is in gilt.  Internally, the book lists six W. E. Johns’ titles and then book titles from “Son of Black Beauty” to “The Little Countess”.

The dust wrapper has “Kingston Library” and “The Thames Publishing Co. London” on the spine.

The original first edition dust jacket showing the price of 3 shillings and 6d

• NOTE: For some reason, Abebooks lists this copy as “Signed by Author”. We wish! It is NOT signed by author.

ABOUT PIONEER AIR COMBAT (a short essay by W. E. Johns)

HOW BIGGLES WAS “BORN” (a short essay by W. E. Johns)

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK

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.

With the exception of the frontispiece, there are no story illustrations in this book.