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Biggles #42
Biggles Takes the Case
When the forces of law and order are baffled, there's only one man for the job—Biggles! In this thrilling collection of short stories, Squadron Leader James Bigglesworth and his loyal team from Scotland Yard tackle a series of baffling crimes across the globe. From international smuggling rings to deadly double-crosses, Biggles applies his sharp wits, flying skills, and fearless determination to bring wrongdoers to justice. Whether in the skies or on the ground, the adventure never stops. Perfect for fans of classic British adventure, Biggles Takes the Case proves once again that when trouble strikes, Biggles always flies true.
189 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1952
49 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2019
Een serie korte verhalen waarbij het soms wel duidelijk is waarom het niet kon uitgroeien tot een volledig boek. Omdat de plot wel ingenieus is maar geen vervolg of parallelle verhaallijn verdraagt. In andere gevallen blijft het een open vraag. Soms is de plot tamelijk zwak, te zwak voor een volledig boek, maar goed genoeg als kort verhaal. Enkele zijn dan weer echte pareltjes.
Gemeenschappelijke hebben ze allemaal dat er vliegtuigen aan te pas komen, verder spelen ze zich over de hele wereldbol af. De mate van spanning varieert per verhaal al mag dat niet verward worden met boeiend, want dat zijn al de Biggles verhalen van W.E. Johns.
Geen uitblinker in de lange reeks maar eentje dat zeker als buitenbeentje zijn plaats verdient.
Gemeenschappelijke hebben ze allemaal dat er vliegtuigen aan te pas komen, verder spelen ze zich over de hele wereldbol af. De mate van spanning varieert per verhaal al mag dat niet verward worden met boeiend, want dat zijn al de Biggles verhalen van W.E. Johns.
Geen uitblinker in de lange reeks maar eentje dat zeker als buitenbeentje zijn plaats verdient.
June 15, 2025
An assemblage of various Biggles short stories from various annuals and magazines. Whilst some of the individual stories are really good, this is an eclectic array which don't really gel together very well. 3 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.”
June 28, 2016
Weer een aantal korte verhalen van biggles en vrienden. weinig over te zeggen.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews