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Biggles #63
Biggles in Mexico
Ritzy, Niffy en Corny vormden een driemanschap dat erg gesteld was op veel geld, veel meer geld dan met gewoon werken te verdienen is. Bovendien durfden ze wel iets aan en dat alles leidde ertoe dat ze in Londen een roofoverval op touw zetten - geen klein inbraakje, maar echt iets in het groot. Ze deden geen half werk en het gewaagde plan lukte helemaal: ze kregen een zo grote buit aan diamanten te pakken dat ze voor de rest van hun leven op fluweel konden zitten. Niet in Engeland natuurlijk - dat zou wat al te riskant zijn - maar wel in Mexico. Mexico is tenslotte een heerlijk land om te wonen, vooral als je geen geldzorgen hebt. Het mooie land lokte het drietal bovendien aan omdat ze daar een meneer kenden die er wel voor te vinden was voor de juwelenbuit klinkende pesos te betalen. Het leek allemaal volgens plan te verlopen en misschien zouden de rooskleurige dromen van de drie ook wel werkelijkheid zijn geworden, als een zekere Biggles er zich niet mee had bemoeid. Maar toen deze bemoeial er zijn neus instak, namen de zaken een keer die Ritzy, Niffy en Corny met al hun slimheid niet hadden voorzien. Aan de andere kant was het natuurlijk ook niet zo dat zij zich zomaar zonder slag, of stoot gewonnen gaven en Biggles' avontuur in Mexico was dan ook allerminst een plezierreisje. Het ging er zelfs zo warm toe dat hij bijna zonder Ginger terug had moeten gaan. . .
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 1959
6 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
W.E. Johns
614 books114 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2018
Another favourite to help bring in the new year reading - Biggles, this time 'In Mexico'.
Biggles and Ginger, the latter who plays a very large part in the story, are sent to Mexico by Air Commodore Raymond in an attempt to trace the whereabouts of a stash of diamonds that have been stolen by a London gang. They had been tipped off by David 'Tricky' Adamson, who had originally been involved with the gang but had fled to Canada after a murder had been committed in the diamond heist. He informed Raymond that the other three gang members, who rejoiced in the nicknames of 'Ritzy', 'Corny' and 'Nifty' had departed to Eltora in Mexico to keep out of the way of the authorities and to arrange a deal with an international dealer.
And he explained that Hugo Schultz, a German from East Berlin, was going to meet the gang in Mexico to purchase the diamonds. Biggles and Ginger, with Bertie and Algy in reserve just over the border in the United States, were, therefore, deployed to go over and sort matters out.
This they do but immediately get into difficulties in the rough Mexican terrain when their car breaks down. They manage to limp into Eltora but nothing can be done about the breakdown so they are temporarily grounded. They do meet up with the gang members, one of whom seems to know Bigglesworth by reputation, and the pair begin to keep an eye on the gang members' comings and goings.
While Biggles remains in Eltora, Ginger borrows a car from one of the gang members and makes his way to the border, following the Cadillac that the gang members are driving. But he gets caught in a storm, loses control of his car and careers down a ravine. He ends up wandering about lost and once the gang members realise that he is on their tail they seek him out to eliminate him.
Fortunately for Ginger they do not find him and he manages to wander back to Eltora where he finds that Biggles has departed in a local man's car to search for him. In the meantime the gang also return to Eltora and discover that Ginger is there but with no sign of the car, in which they have a great interest.
They forcibly take Ginger with them to search the hinterland for the missing car and the excitement mounts as internecine squabbling takes place between the gang members. All the while Biggles is searching for Ginger and to assist him, he telegraphs Algy over the border to get in a 'plane and search the chaparral for Ginger and the gang.
In a most exciting climax the diamonds are located, a shoot-out takes place and eventually with Schultz also taken care of, the diamonds and money are handed over to the authorities. Biggles, Ginger, Algy and Bertie are free once more to return to Blighty and look for further exciting adventures!
Biggles and Ginger, the latter who plays a very large part in the story, are sent to Mexico by Air Commodore Raymond in an attempt to trace the whereabouts of a stash of diamonds that have been stolen by a London gang. They had been tipped off by David 'Tricky' Adamson, who had originally been involved with the gang but had fled to Canada after a murder had been committed in the diamond heist. He informed Raymond that the other three gang members, who rejoiced in the nicknames of 'Ritzy', 'Corny' and 'Nifty' had departed to Eltora in Mexico to keep out of the way of the authorities and to arrange a deal with an international dealer.
And he explained that Hugo Schultz, a German from East Berlin, was going to meet the gang in Mexico to purchase the diamonds. Biggles and Ginger, with Bertie and Algy in reserve just over the border in the United States, were, therefore, deployed to go over and sort matters out.
This they do but immediately get into difficulties in the rough Mexican terrain when their car breaks down. They manage to limp into Eltora but nothing can be done about the breakdown so they are temporarily grounded. They do meet up with the gang members, one of whom seems to know Bigglesworth by reputation, and the pair begin to keep an eye on the gang members' comings and goings.
While Biggles remains in Eltora, Ginger borrows a car from one of the gang members and makes his way to the border, following the Cadillac that the gang members are driving. But he gets caught in a storm, loses control of his car and careers down a ravine. He ends up wandering about lost and once the gang members realise that he is on their tail they seek him out to eliminate him.
Fortunately for Ginger they do not find him and he manages to wander back to Eltora where he finds that Biggles has departed in a local man's car to search for him. In the meantime the gang also return to Eltora and discover that Ginger is there but with no sign of the car, in which they have a great interest.
They forcibly take Ginger with them to search the hinterland for the missing car and the excitement mounts as internecine squabbling takes place between the gang members. All the while Biggles is searching for Ginger and to assist him, he telegraphs Algy over the border to get in a 'plane and search the chaparral for Ginger and the gang.
In a most exciting climax the diamonds are located, a shoot-out takes place and eventually with Schultz also taken care of, the diamonds and money are handed over to the authorities. Biggles, Ginger, Algy and Bertie are free once more to return to Blighty and look for further exciting adventures!
June 27, 2021
Biggles en Ginger bevinden zich in de woestijn van Mexico, wanneer hun auto pech krijgt. Zij zijn op zoek naar de een drietal overvallers, die in Engeland bij een overval een concierge dood hebben geschoten en er met diverse juwelen vandoor zijn gegaan. Dankzij een tip komen zij de daders op het spoor.
Ginger raakt verdwaald in de woestijn, maar weet uiteindelijk zijn hotel weer te vinden, waar uit hij echter al snel wordt ontvoerd door de bende. Hij raakt in een levensgevaarlijke situatie, maar gelukkig weet Biggles, geholpen door Bertie, Algy en José hem op het nippertje te redden.
Lekker, vlot geschreven verhaal, waarin zelfs Eric von Stalhein een hele kleine rol speelt.
Ginger raakt verdwaald in de woestijn, maar weet uiteindelijk zijn hotel weer te vinden, waar uit hij echter al snel wordt ontvoerd door de bende. Hij raakt in een levensgevaarlijke situatie, maar gelukkig weet Biggles, geholpen door Bertie, Algy en José hem op het nippertje te redden.
Lekker, vlot geschreven verhaal, waarin zelfs Eric von Stalhein een hele kleine rol speelt.
March 30, 2020
Een speciale Biggles, haast zonder vliegtuigen dit keer en in een voor Biggles en Ginger onbekend land: Mexico. Bertie en Algy spelen haast geen rol van betekenis.
Er wordt erg veel aandacht besteedt aan de beschrijving van de grensstreek van Mexico met de USA. Het stof, de hitte, het uitgedroogde landschap worden zo gedetailleerd en realistisch weergegeven dat de lezer al uitdrogingsverschijnselen en een chronische dorst krijgt bij het lezen ervan.
De gangsters (want er zijn natuurlijk wel slechten) zijn meedogenloos en kijken niet op een moord meer of minder, en dat terwijl Biggles en Ginger niet alleen ongewapend zijn maar ook nog eens met autopech te kampen hebben zodat ze niet kunnen ontsnappen, als ze dat al zouden willen.
Diamanten en een koffer vol geld spelen een belangrijke rol in een land van corruptie en hoog oplopende emoties en overdreven familie-eer.
Een langzaam verhaal met minder aktie dan gewoonlijk maar het leest daarom niet minder boeiend.
Speciaal binnen de reeks maar zeker niet de minste.
Er wordt erg veel aandacht besteedt aan de beschrijving van de grensstreek van Mexico met de USA. Het stof, de hitte, het uitgedroogde landschap worden zo gedetailleerd en realistisch weergegeven dat de lezer al uitdrogingsverschijnselen en een chronische dorst krijgt bij het lezen ervan.
De gangsters (want er zijn natuurlijk wel slechten) zijn meedogenloos en kijken niet op een moord meer of minder, en dat terwijl Biggles en Ginger niet alleen ongewapend zijn maar ook nog eens met autopech te kampen hebben zodat ze niet kunnen ontsnappen, als ze dat al zouden willen.
Diamanten en een koffer vol geld spelen een belangrijke rol in een land van corruptie en hoog oplopende emoties en overdreven familie-eer.
Een langzaam verhaal met minder aktie dan gewoonlijk maar het leest daarom niet minder boeiend.
Speciaal binnen de reeks maar zeker niet de minste.
July 4, 2024
Not 1 of his best. Still required reading for fans who want to complete the set though
Would not recommend it for a new reader, likely to put them off.
I know it had to be done to make the story, but Gingers stupidly was painful, & not really that believable. You would expect him to know better by now.
Would not recommend it for a new reader, likely to put them off.
I know it had to be done to make the story, but Gingers stupidly was painful, & not really that believable. You would expect him to know better by now.
October 17, 2018
thin.
December 28, 2025
Definitely one of my favourites of Captain W E Johns, a little annoying at times as Biggles and Ginger kept missing each other on the road! But it’s still a good on! Solid 4 stars
December 22, 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.”
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews