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Biggles #38
Biggles Gets His Men
Biggles investigates the kidnapping of some highly specialised scientists. The book features Algy, Ginger and Bertie although Algy only plays a very small part in the story. A bizarre clue, involving three V's tattooed on a Chinaman's head, leads the team to a remote part of China. A rescue mission is mounted and this includes Chinese expert and speaker, Captain Roderick Mayne. The team locate the villains' base and have to organise the escape of the captured scientists. Biggles and Ginger infiltrate their camp and discover the presence of an old enemy.
189 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 1950
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
W.E. Johns
613 books113 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 8, 2013
As much as I love these books, one has to admit they are somewhat formulaic, especially those set in peacetime. Somebody (in this case Government) uses a personal connection with Biggles to kick him and the boys off on a Great Adventure (happily funded by Someone, in this case government) in which Foreigners must be Faced, dirty tricks overcome, and exotic locations explored with lots of lovely adjectives and jolly facts cribbed from the National Geographic and a persistent, nasty kind of racial profiling that would make Pauline Hanson blush. That said: I'm going to give this one a four, as although it basically boils down to "some of our atomic scientists are missing", dresses the team up in yellowface(! D:), forgets Algy exists 10 pages in, and proceeds to be very rude about 'Asiatics', Russians, Mongolians, Germans, Chinese, Koreans and pretty much anyone else you can think of, before dissolving in the sort of boom-bang-brou-ha-ha in which Baddies Are Dealt With Never You Mind How and we all go home for tea... *despite* that, (a) it has some immensely fun and stupid plot points (kidnapped undercover agent smuggles location of secret jungle work camp out by tattooing it on the head of a mute Chinese/Siberian slave, for instance - AND PEOPLE FIND IT)... and (b) Erich von Stalhein making one of his Relatively Good Bad Guy appearances for no apparent reason, and (c) genuinely bizarre and exotic location and (d) von Stalhein. Did I mention von Stalhein? EVS = I forgive you for no Algy, WEJ. JUST THIS ONCE.
March 22, 2016
Minus points for not enough Algy, plus points for Ginger managing to extricate himself from the usual difficulties. Points also for novel setting, but otherwise somewhat pedestrian. Still, it's Biggles and the fuel tank doesn't get holed.
April 1, 2007
These books belonged to my grandfather. I continued to read the Biggles series through high school. Something about a fighter pilot's life fascinated me.
May 21, 2018
B78 This books should be named; Biggles and the plot that failed. Only excuse might have been that WEJ needed to publish to make a living. I realize it sounds harsh...
The first three chapters are done pretty well. Important scientist dead is bad, kidnapped is far far worse, so investigating and possible rescue mission is understandable. The final pointer toward Mongolia is the final ingredient for another exciting adventure, but alas.
WEJ got stuck in complaining about mosquito's (that's understandable regarding his past) but also Petrovski's appetite for Vodka. Did WEJ had a hangover while writing???
I mean, Ling Soo's thrive for world domination, kidnapping of atomic and ballistic specialist could, no SHOULD have lead to something more spectacular. Not an average prisoners camp far away. And only 5 people were rescued. I don't fire rockets ever week, not even every month, but to be able to construct anything at all, you need at least a hundredfold of them, and during many years. Especially if it is located in such remote area.
This title was published in 1950, when the cold-war was alive and kicking around.
As ridiculous as "hits the trail" was, even that is more realist than "gets his MS published"
Obviously, other readers felt the same about this book, as you see few second hand copies. As a consequence, I noticed that I had to pay considerably (20 quid) for this title.
Far more expensive than a bottle of vodka....
The first three chapters are done pretty well. Important scientist dead is bad, kidnapped is far far worse, so investigating and possible rescue mission is understandable. The final pointer toward Mongolia is the final ingredient for another exciting adventure, but alas.
WEJ got stuck in complaining about mosquito's (that's understandable regarding his past) but also Petrovski's appetite for Vodka. Did WEJ had a hangover while writing???
I mean, Ling Soo's thrive for world domination, kidnapping of atomic and ballistic specialist could, no SHOULD have lead to something more spectacular. Not an average prisoners camp far away. And only 5 people were rescued. I don't fire rockets ever week, not even every month, but to be able to construct anything at all, you need at least a hundredfold of them, and during many years. Especially if it is located in such remote area.
This title was published in 1950, when the cold-war was alive and kicking around.
As ridiculous as "hits the trail" was, even that is more realist than "gets his MS published"
Obviously, other readers felt the same about this book, as you see few second hand copies. As a consequence, I noticed that I had to pay considerably (20 quid) for this title.
Far more expensive than a bottle of vodka....
January 21, 2019
I didn't know what to expect from this but as soon as I started reading I was hooked in by the easy writing and flowing story. It starts with a clandestine meeting within the SAS as Sergeant Bigglesworth is pulled in to extracate some important British prisoners from the depths of dense forest in a remote part of China, an area under the not so democratic authority of a local prince and his 'army', a somewhat indisciplined group of Mongolian merceneries. A so begins a tense adventure that sees Biggles and his men set up camp, undertake recon flights and sneak in to a well guarded and armed camp complete with mistreated slaves and copious amounts of vodka. Throw into the mix a lively Russian and a not so pleasant ex-Nazi and things don't go quite as smoothly as planned.
July 23, 2021
Okay Biggles story, but will little of the original magic.
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.”
April 23, 2023
It is difficult to beat Biggles books for excitement and this one is no different. Set in Eastern Asia, Biggles is directed by Air-Commodore Raymond to take a trip to the east, along with his accomplices, Air-Constables "Ginger" Hebblethwaite, Algy Lacey and Bertie Lisse, to find a number of top scientists who have disappeared over the recent months. Lord Rutherford of the Foreign Office and Colonel George Grimster of the Canadian Army and Corporal Roderick Mayne brief the foursome with the background to these scientists and why they think that they have been kidnapped, the view of which was to further the enemy's knowledge of British atomic research.
Armed with the background and the likely terrain that he was likely to encounter, Biggles had to decide on the aircraft needed to undertake the mission. He duly settled on two aircraft, one small and light to survey the area and one large to carry all the necessary equipment likely to be required. The next decision to be made was where to land safely in a land of lakes and forests. Amphibious 'planes were selected, loaded and away went Biggles with no guarantee that he and his colleagues would ever return.
All sorts of problems met them when they looked for landing spots but eventually they found one for the large aircraft on a heavily wooded lake that provided camouflage sufficient to hide the aircraft from prying eyes. Some scouting was done in the smaller 'plane but it was subsequently wrecked and Biggles had to make a perilous way back to base.
When the party located the whereabouts of the scientists, leaving Algy behind to safeguard the aircraft, they quickly located the camp and Biggles discovered that one of his old nemesis, the German mercenary Erich von Stalhein. Exciting episodes followed as Biggles and his cohorts made every effort to rescue the scientists, get them back to the aircraft and safely back to England. Along the way they encountered a mad vodka-drinking Russian in Alexis Petroffsky, whose persona added drama to the rescue attempt.
And WE Johns relates the events with his usual panache so that in the end Ginger's view of the escapade was 'a job well done'.
Armed with the background and the likely terrain that he was likely to encounter, Biggles had to decide on the aircraft needed to undertake the mission. He duly settled on two aircraft, one small and light to survey the area and one large to carry all the necessary equipment likely to be required. The next decision to be made was where to land safely in a land of lakes and forests. Amphibious 'planes were selected, loaded and away went Biggles with no guarantee that he and his colleagues would ever return.
All sorts of problems met them when they looked for landing spots but eventually they found one for the large aircraft on a heavily wooded lake that provided camouflage sufficient to hide the aircraft from prying eyes. Some scouting was done in the smaller 'plane but it was subsequently wrecked and Biggles had to make a perilous way back to base.
When the party located the whereabouts of the scientists, leaving Algy behind to safeguard the aircraft, they quickly located the camp and Biggles discovered that one of his old nemesis, the German mercenary Erich von Stalhein. Exciting episodes followed as Biggles and his cohorts made every effort to rescue the scientists, get them back to the aircraft and safely back to England. Along the way they encountered a mad vodka-drinking Russian in Alexis Petroffsky, whose persona added drama to the rescue attempt.
And WE Johns relates the events with his usual panache so that in the end Ginger's view of the escapade was 'a job well done'.
November 20, 2024
It is true that we've seen this all before, as our old friend W.E. Johns had no choice but to recycle plots considering the vast number of page-turners that he churned out in his time. But, as always, Johns' skill as a writer keeps us glued to the story until we've turned the last page. I do get the feeling that a lot of Johns' descriptions of the many exotic locations of Biggles books were mostly based on his extensive war and civilian career.
Biggles has always had a strong aversion to wearing a disguise, but because of the unique problems entailed with this case, he gets talked into colouring his skin yellow to "appear" to be Korean. We all know that wouldn't work in real life, but sometimes it is best to "suspend belief" temporarily if we are to enjoy a good yarn. At least it wasn't as unbelievable as the time Algie (or was it Bertie?) impersonated a roaring lion and frightened away the bad guys! Haha! Swallowing that tall-tale took a child-like faith almost impossible to conjure up.
The drunken knuckle-dragging Russian oaf provided some comic relief, and Phew!!! in the end Goodness prevailed over Evil (as per usual). The boys are able to beetle back home, and enjoy a few cigarettes and a decent cup of tea after the muck they had been drinking for weeks. This must have been a frightfully exciting tale for teenage boys back in 1950.
At one point in past books I had gotten tired of the too-frequent appearances of von Stalhein, but he's kind of grown on me, like one of those annoying old uncles you are forced to socialise with every Christmas; the one you would jolly well like to kick in the shins now and then. I suppose I felt more forgiving of old Stalhein after having read "Biggles Buries the Hatchet".
In any case, with all it's faults and it's reflection of the overt racism in post WWII Britain, this was a well-crafted and exciting tale which I recommend.
Biggles has always had a strong aversion to wearing a disguise, but because of the unique problems entailed with this case, he gets talked into colouring his skin yellow to "appear" to be Korean. We all know that wouldn't work in real life, but sometimes it is best to "suspend belief" temporarily if we are to enjoy a good yarn. At least it wasn't as unbelievable as the time Algie (or was it Bertie?) impersonated a roaring lion and frightened away the bad guys! Haha! Swallowing that tall-tale took a child-like faith almost impossible to conjure up.
The drunken knuckle-dragging Russian oaf provided some comic relief, and Phew!!! in the end Goodness prevailed over Evil (as per usual). The boys are able to beetle back home, and enjoy a few cigarettes and a decent cup of tea after the muck they had been drinking for weeks. This must have been a frightfully exciting tale for teenage boys back in 1950.
At one point in past books I had gotten tired of the too-frequent appearances of von Stalhein, but he's kind of grown on me, like one of those annoying old uncles you are forced to socialise with every Christmas; the one you would jolly well like to kick in the shins now and then. I suppose I felt more forgiving of old Stalhein after having read "Biggles Buries the Hatchet".
In any case, with all it's faults and it's reflection of the overt racism in post WWII Britain, this was a well-crafted and exciting tale which I recommend.
June 28, 2016
Een aardig verhaal.
Een aantal (atoom)geleerden verdwijnt spoorloos, en men staat voor een raadsel, tot er bij de Engelse ambassade in China een man kwam binnenlopen. Deze man was kon niet spreken, zijn tong was verwijderd, maar met handgebaren kon hij hun duidelijk maken een geheim had. Op zijn hoofd was met onuitwisbare inkt een plattegrond getekend, maar ook een geheim teken. Dit teken brengt de Engelse geheime dienst er toe om Biggles en zijn kornuiten te vragen een poging te doen om de ontvoerde geleerden te redden. Het probleem hierbij was dat de geleerden diep in China vast zaten.
Maar het lukt Biggles cs. om de geleerde vrij te krijgen, en tevens een eind te maken aan de slavernij waarin diverse mensen gevangen werden gehouden.
Dit verhaal maakt duidelijk dat de chronologie in deze serie nogal verward is, want in een eerder boek, Biggles begraaft de strijdbijl, heeft Biggles nog juist Von Stalhein bevrijdt uit Russische gevangenschap, terwijl in dit deel ze weer tegenover elkaar komen te staan. Of.. heeft Von Stalhein zijn streken nog niet verleerd?
Een aantal (atoom)geleerden verdwijnt spoorloos, en men staat voor een raadsel, tot er bij de Engelse ambassade in China een man kwam binnenlopen. Deze man was kon niet spreken, zijn tong was verwijderd, maar met handgebaren kon hij hun duidelijk maken een geheim had. Op zijn hoofd was met onuitwisbare inkt een plattegrond getekend, maar ook een geheim teken. Dit teken brengt de Engelse geheime dienst er toe om Biggles en zijn kornuiten te vragen een poging te doen om de ontvoerde geleerden te redden. Het probleem hierbij was dat de geleerden diep in China vast zaten.
Maar het lukt Biggles cs. om de geleerde vrij te krijgen, en tevens een eind te maken aan de slavernij waarin diverse mensen gevangen werden gehouden.
Dit verhaal maakt duidelijk dat de chronologie in deze serie nogal verward is, want in een eerder boek, Biggles begraaft de strijdbijl, heeft Biggles nog juist Von Stalhein bevrijdt uit Russische gevangenschap, terwijl in dit deel ze weer tegenover elkaar komen te staan. Of.. heeft Von Stalhein zijn streken nog niet verleerd?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2015
yet another biggles book
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews