What do you think?
Rate this book
Biggles
A Biggles Omnibus
Biggles Learns to Fly - Fall 1916, Bigglesworth 16, learns to fly in England, after 15 air hours sent to France. Downed twice, drops French spy, fights Aces and circuses.
Biggles Flies East - Mistaken for traitor Brunow, Captain James suspects von Stalhein is spy chief El Shereef for Germany, and Sterne for Britain.
Biggles in the Orient - Biggles leads his squad against Jap secret weapon downing all but two pilots on Calcutta to China run.
Biggles Flies East - Mistaken for traitor Brunow, Captain James suspects von Stalhein is spy chief El Shereef for Germany, and Sterne for Britain.
Biggles in the Orient - Biggles leads his squad against Jap secret weapon downing all but two pilots on Calcutta to China run.
640 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1935
About the author
W.E. Johns
613 books117 followersInvariably known as Captain W.E. Johns, William Earl Johns was born in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (née Earl), the daughter of a master butcher. He had a younger brother, Russell Ernest Johns, who was born on 24 October 1895.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 6, 2024
This omnibus collects three Biggles wartime stories, two from the First World War and one from World War Two. Young Biggles flies an aircraft for the first time and is soon enough fighting the Boche. A little later in time but now much more experienced, Biggles pursues spies in Palestine, and meets his arch enemy to be, Eric von Stalhein. The third tale has Biggles sent to India on a mission to solve the mystery of a Japanese secret weapon downing aircraft over Burma.
Biggles Learns To Fly ****
The extremely young Biggles, who is not yet 18, is thrown into the archie–filled skies over France having completed just 15 hours of flying time.
Thereafter we are treated to some rollicking World War One aviation adventures mixed in with the bloody reality of dog-fights, sorties to blow up enemy airfields, ditching in the channel, battling the Red Baron’s Circus and dropping spies behind enemy lines.
It is also our first acquaintance with the character who would ultimately inspire hundreds of young men to join the RAF during World War Two. The young Biggles is slim, shorter than average, fair-haired, hazel-eyed with ‘finely-cut’ features revealing a certain doggedness, tenacity and by the end of the story, the ‘cold fury’ with which we are familiar makes its first appearance on the young face, when vengeance is required.
Biggles Flies East ****
A terrific Biggles adventure set largely in Palestine during World War One where our hero spends much of the time spying behind enemy lines, searching for the elusive Arab agent El Shereef, who is annoying the British.
Handily, Biggles speaks fluent German, so he can taunt a bombastic German ace, encounter Erich von Stalhein for the first time, and rescue Algy who is being held prisoner. This gives Johns the opportunity to acknowledge the deep bond shared by the comrades. Biggles the spy leaves the cell where Algy is being held, vowing to rescue his friend: 'Their hands met in a firm grip, the only time during the whole war that either of them allowed their real feelings to get uppermost’. (p342)
Biggles In The Orient ***
Biggles and the boys fly to Calcutta to solve the mystery of aircraft crashing for no apparent reason, while en route from India to China.
It turns out chewing gum and chocolate are the mystery weapons but they do have an extra ingredient. In the course of this tale Biggles wades in a river in Burma, pulls an unconscious pilot, an old mate, from his stacked Hurricane and later hops in a Spitfire to mete out justice to a scoundrel.
Biggles Learns to Fly is a strong 4-stars, Biggles Flies East is also 4-stars and Biggles in the Orient is 3-stars, making The Biggles Omnibus 4-stars overall. This is a summary of the stories. Each is fully reviewed separately.
Biggles Learns To Fly ****
The extremely young Biggles, who is not yet 18, is thrown into the archie–filled skies over France having completed just 15 hours of flying time.
Thereafter we are treated to some rollicking World War One aviation adventures mixed in with the bloody reality of dog-fights, sorties to blow up enemy airfields, ditching in the channel, battling the Red Baron’s Circus and dropping spies behind enemy lines.
It is also our first acquaintance with the character who would ultimately inspire hundreds of young men to join the RAF during World War Two. The young Biggles is slim, shorter than average, fair-haired, hazel-eyed with ‘finely-cut’ features revealing a certain doggedness, tenacity and by the end of the story, the ‘cold fury’ with which we are familiar makes its first appearance on the young face, when vengeance is required.
Biggles Flies East ****
A terrific Biggles adventure set largely in Palestine during World War One where our hero spends much of the time spying behind enemy lines, searching for the elusive Arab agent El Shereef, who is annoying the British.
Handily, Biggles speaks fluent German, so he can taunt a bombastic German ace, encounter Erich von Stalhein for the first time, and rescue Algy who is being held prisoner. This gives Johns the opportunity to acknowledge the deep bond shared by the comrades. Biggles the spy leaves the cell where Algy is being held, vowing to rescue his friend: 'Their hands met in a firm grip, the only time during the whole war that either of them allowed their real feelings to get uppermost’. (p342)
Biggles In The Orient ***
Biggles and the boys fly to Calcutta to solve the mystery of aircraft crashing for no apparent reason, while en route from India to China.
It turns out chewing gum and chocolate are the mystery weapons but they do have an extra ingredient. In the course of this tale Biggles wades in a river in Burma, pulls an unconscious pilot, an old mate, from his stacked Hurricane and later hops in a Spitfire to mete out justice to a scoundrel.
Biggles Learns to Fly is a strong 4-stars, Biggles Flies East is also 4-stars and Biggles in the Orient is 3-stars, making The Biggles Omnibus 4-stars overall. This is a summary of the stories. Each is fully reviewed separately.
March 13, 2016
Biggles Learns to Fly
I think this will actually go down as one of my favourite Biggles books. Technically you’re meant to read it first, but it’s just as good when you read it thirty-first.
Aeroplanes are always cool to read about/dream about flying, and the Biggles books are always so engaging. War made into a fast-paced novel, knowing that Biggles can’t die, and yet wondering the whole way through how he manages not to.
It was really interesting to hear about a young Biggles, and how he actually started his RFC flying. All the learning behind the expert pilot in the later books.
I love learning more about aviation in the world wars through these books. They’re fun, and really informative in a hands-on way, really getting you into the story. Biggles never shirks from saying people died, because people did, but it portrays the character’s reactions in a very real way.
Biggles Flies East
Ooh, I think that Biggles Learns to Fly will have another companion in the favourites. This book was a great story; aeroplanes, spies, deserts, what more could I ask for?
The book is stuffed with tension the whole way. What with all the spying and double-double-crossing there was no lack of interest. All the plots are so thick it’s barely possible to see through them.
All the characters are great. Something I really like in all these books is how, at the very end, Biggles explains everything, and I get to read it and smile because I suspected most of it at the exact same time as Biggles. And that’s just cool. A nice change from the books with super annoying characters that need a good thump over the head so they can work out what’s going on.
Biggles Flies East is Hauptmann von Stalhein’s first appearance, and almost tops them all in epicness, because back then he and Biggles didn’t know of each other, and hadn’t become personal arch enemies. Von Stalhein is just so clever. So much double-crossing!
I definitely recommend this series to everyone who likes aeroplanes, dry humour, amazing characters, and a great story.
Biggles in the Orient
Sadly, this is one I read a while ago and didn’t actually review (back in the lazy days), so…all I can say is that it’s absolutely as good as all the rest!
I think this will actually go down as one of my favourite Biggles books. Technically you’re meant to read it first, but it’s just as good when you read it thirty-first.
Aeroplanes are always cool to read about/dream about flying, and the Biggles books are always so engaging. War made into a fast-paced novel, knowing that Biggles can’t die, and yet wondering the whole way through how he manages not to.
It was really interesting to hear about a young Biggles, and how he actually started his RFC flying. All the learning behind the expert pilot in the later books.
I love learning more about aviation in the world wars through these books. They’re fun, and really informative in a hands-on way, really getting you into the story. Biggles never shirks from saying people died, because people did, but it portrays the character’s reactions in a very real way.
Biggles Flies East
Ooh, I think that Biggles Learns to Fly will have another companion in the favourites. This book was a great story; aeroplanes, spies, deserts, what more could I ask for?
The book is stuffed with tension the whole way. What with all the spying and double-double-crossing there was no lack of interest. All the plots are so thick it’s barely possible to see through them.
All the characters are great. Something I really like in all these books is how, at the very end, Biggles explains everything, and I get to read it and smile because I suspected most of it at the exact same time as Biggles. And that’s just cool. A nice change from the books with super annoying characters that need a good thump over the head so they can work out what’s going on.
Biggles Flies East is Hauptmann von Stalhein’s first appearance, and almost tops them all in epicness, because back then he and Biggles didn’t know of each other, and hadn’t become personal arch enemies. Von Stalhein is just so clever. So much double-crossing!
I definitely recommend this series to everyone who likes aeroplanes, dry humour, amazing characters, and a great story.
Biggles in the Orient
Sadly, this is one I read a while ago and didn’t actually review (back in the lazy days), so…all I can say is that it’s absolutely as good as all the rest!
January 28, 2014
Sep 1916 Norfolk England Flying School trains Bigglesworth 16 ("eleven months" under legal 18 p 10) looks "delicate" yet dogged, ships to France on less than 15 hours. Though gunner Mark saves his first flight, hot dogfights force him to learn or die. Downed twice over Lines, he plans new strategy against "circuses", drops French spy.
Biggles Learns to Fly
Sep 1916 Norfolk England Flying School trains Bigglesworth 16 (under legal 18) "delicate-looking", square chin and firm mouth suggest "doggedness", small white girl hands p 10, ships to France on "less than fifteen hours' flying, dual and solo, did not depress him in the least" p 28. Crossing Channel, Mahoney, three months after infantry out of New Zealand p 41 gives tips; later Mahoney's Sopwith Pup rescues his Bristol. "During the next five minutes he learnt many things, things that were to stand him in good stead later on, and the fact that he escaped was due, not to his ability, but to a circumstance for which he was duly grateful" p 125. On arrival, he sees corpse up close, otherwise fatalities always distanced, in terms of "machines lost", rarely "two pilots .. whilst learning to fly the very tricky Camels" p 191, updated Pups.
Slang peppers, thankfully translations are starred at page bottoms, perhaps better in appendix, much still in use "CO" Commanding Officer. "Archie" is first footnote in #2, puzzles for #1 "sooner you get used to archie the better" p 42, "black archie bursts" p 45, "desultory archie bursts" p 53, "ever-increasing archie and machine-gun bullets" p 55, "don't fancy being archied at night" p 71, until finally defined "Archie - otherwise anti-aircraft gunfire!" p 71.
Feels like we soar and dodge. On first flight over Lines, only alert observer Mark Way sees the enemy, but Biggles is a natural, and soon excels as Ace. "It was a brilliant move, although at the time he didn't know it; it showed anticipation in the moves of the games that marked the expert in air combat" p 129.
Surprise is preferable to foretelling. Curtis is "yawning, little dreaming that he was going to bed for the last time in his life". Twice Biggles and Mark crash on the wrong side and escape, once by cold sea. First morning, he coldly growls "I've got a nasty feeling that our turn is about due. Just a hunch that something's going to happen" p 165.
Any time for a laugh, even after suspenseful near escapes, from Boche and "Tommy" British friendly "Mill's bomb" grenade. "We might be blackberrying, but we're not. Again, we might be playing croquet, or roller-skating, but we're not. We're just waiting.. 'Waiting? What for?' For you blokes to come along of course" enthusiastically "To bed, till you find me another aeroplane" p 172.
Likely history and air tactics texts have drier versions. Biggles' fresh eyes and sharp brain invent novel moves, original for times. In "art obs" artillery observation, signals A12 means alter 100' at 12 o'clock North direct ground gunners to target p 119.
Crediting "they're using their brains more than we are .. Huns mostly stay over their own side .. grouping of their hot-stuff pilots into 'circuses' " p 182. "War-flying is too new for strategy to be laid down in the text-books; we've got to work it out for ourselves" p 183. After a particular bad show "flummoxed" him p 179, "five British machines and seven German machines had been seen to fall .. two missing Pups" p 181, Biggles plans an ambush.
Biggles Learns to Fly
Sep 1916 Norfolk England Flying School trains Bigglesworth 16 (under legal 18) "delicate-looking", square chin and firm mouth suggest "doggedness", small white girl hands p 10, ships to France on "less than fifteen hours' flying, dual and solo, did not depress him in the least" p 28. Crossing Channel, Mahoney, three months after infantry out of New Zealand p 41 gives tips; later Mahoney's Sopwith Pup rescues his Bristol. "During the next five minutes he learnt many things, things that were to stand him in good stead later on, and the fact that he escaped was due, not to his ability, but to a circumstance for which he was duly grateful" p 125. On arrival, he sees corpse up close, otherwise fatalities always distanced, in terms of "machines lost", rarely "two pilots .. whilst learning to fly the very tricky Camels" p 191, updated Pups.
Slang peppers, thankfully translations are starred at page bottoms, perhaps better in appendix, much still in use "CO" Commanding Officer. "Archie" is first footnote in #2, puzzles for #1 "sooner you get used to archie the better" p 42, "black archie bursts" p 45, "desultory archie bursts" p 53, "ever-increasing archie and machine-gun bullets" p 55, "don't fancy being archied at night" p 71, until finally defined "Archie - otherwise anti-aircraft gunfire!" p 71.
Feels like we soar and dodge. On first flight over Lines, only alert observer Mark Way sees the enemy, but Biggles is a natural, and soon excels as Ace. "It was a brilliant move, although at the time he didn't know it; it showed anticipation in the moves of the games that marked the expert in air combat" p 129.
Surprise is preferable to foretelling. Curtis is "yawning, little dreaming that he was going to bed for the last time in his life". Twice Biggles and Mark crash on the wrong side and escape, once by cold sea. First morning, he coldly growls "I've got a nasty feeling that our turn is about due. Just a hunch that something's going to happen" p 165.
Any time for a laugh, even after suspenseful near escapes, from Boche and "Tommy" British friendly "Mill's bomb" grenade. "We might be blackberrying, but we're not. Again, we might be playing croquet, or roller-skating, but we're not. We're just waiting.. 'Waiting? What for?' For you blokes to come along of course" enthusiastically "To bed, till you find me another aeroplane" p 172.
Likely history and air tactics texts have drier versions. Biggles' fresh eyes and sharp brain invent novel moves, original for times. In "art obs" artillery observation, signals A12 means alter 100' at 12 o'clock North direct ground gunners to target p 119.
Crediting "they're using their brains more than we are .. Huns mostly stay over their own side .. grouping of their hot-stuff pilots into 'circuses' " p 182. "War-flying is too new for strategy to be laid down in the text-books; we've got to work it out for ourselves" p 183. After a particular bad show "flummoxed" him p 179, "five British machines and seven German machines had been seen to fall .. two missing Pups" p 181, Biggles plans an ambush.
November 19, 2025
I am reviewing the series as a whole, rather than the books individually
The Biggles series is great adventure fiction: we get high stakes, aerial action (in most of the books), and a hero who is endlessly loyal, competent, and calm under pressure.
I love the dogfights, recon missions, and wartime scenarios.
Where the series falls short is character depth. Some attitudes and simplifications reflect the period in which the books were written. There are very definitely dated elements, but considering the era the books were written - overall the series performs well. More than a few of the stories defy plausibility, but who doesn't love to curl up with a good adventure book or 10?
“Never say die.”
The Biggles series is great adventure fiction: we get high stakes, aerial action (in most of the books), and a hero who is endlessly loyal, competent, and calm under pressure.
I love the dogfights, recon missions, and wartime scenarios.
Where the series falls short is character depth. Some attitudes and simplifications reflect the period in which the books were written. There are very definitely dated elements, but considering the era the books were written - overall the series performs well. More than a few of the stories defy plausibility, but who doesn't love to curl up with a good adventure book or 10?
“Never say die.”
September 5, 2015
My dad bought me this book when I was just a little gaffer. Back then, any book that had a Spitfire in it was a "must read".
Read
January 5, 2019Biggles in Mexico
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews