THE CAMELS ARE COMING

 

by W. E. Johns

 

 

III.                   J-9982  (Pages 49 – 61)

 

Biggles is flying at 16,000 feet at the end of a two hour patrol when he sees a British Sopwith Camel aircraft shoot down another Sopwith Camel!  Biggles dives after the offending machine and is just in time to see its registration number – J-9982, before it disappears into the swirling mist.  “All right, you swine, I’ll remember you”.  Biggles knows the Camel must be from either his own squadron or 231 Squadron “as they were the only Camel Squadrons in that area”.  Back at base, Biggles discovers that Mahoney is out with Forest and Hall.  When two Camels return, Hall is missing.  “You can pack his kit – he won’t be coming back” says Biggles.  Biggles tells Mullen what he has seen and then goes to 231 Squadron where he discovers that aircraft number J-9982 was a machine belonging to a pilot called Jackson.  “He went west at the beginning of the month”.  Biggles then speaks with Major Sharp, the commanding officer at 231.  Biggles returns to his Squadron and asks Major Mullen not to report the incident to Wing for 48 hours to allow him a chance to get the enemy Camel before every British Camel is thought to have a German in.  Biggles has arranged for all Camel prop bosses to be painted blue to assist him in spotting the enemy plane.  Biggles patrols looking for the plane.  “Biggles had found a Hanoverana and shot it down in flames at the first burst without satisfying the stone-cold desire to kill which consumed him”.  Biggles eventually finds the Camel designated J-9982.  “You swine,” he breathed:  You dirty, unutterable, murdering swine!  I’m going to kill you if it’s the last thing I do on earth”.  Looking up, he sees five Fokker triplanes coming down on him but not before he has time to shoot the pilot of the enemy Camel and send it into the ground.  A dog fight takes place where other Camels come to Biggles’ assistance.  Biggles gets a Fokker.  “Without warning, the black-crossed machine seemed to go to pieces in the air”.  Back at base, Biggles reports the destruction of the enemy Camel to Major Mullen.  Biggles then “broke into a peal of nerve-jarring laughter which ended in something like a sob.  “Get me a drink somebody, please,” he pleaded.  “Lord!  I am tired”.