THE CAMELS ARE COMING

by W. E. Johns

VI. CAMOUFLAGE (Pages 91 – 97)

Biggles sees a small church from the cockpit of his Camel that he has never noticed before. Back at his Squadron Office, Colonel Raymond, of Wing Headquarters is talking with Major Mullen, the C.O. Raymond is worried because “We can’t locate that damned heavy gun the Boche are using against our rest camps”. Biggles mentions seeing the church he didn’t know was there and marks the map. Raymond says there is no church there and shows Biggles photographs. Biggles is angry and the following morning he goes to look for the church, but it isn’t where he last saw it. “I’ll get to the bottom of this if it takes me all day,” he promised himself, and settled down for the search. In due course, whilst studying a wood, far over the lines, Biggles sees the church again and flies within a 1,000 feet of it, only to be met by a heavy bombardment. Biggles returns to base and rings Colonel Raymond to explain he has found the church and it is on wheels; it moves about after dark – “and the gun you are looking for is inside it”. Biggles gives the map reference and half a dozen batteries of howitzers open fire at the church reducing it to mangled pulp. Biggles flies out to look. “That little lot should teach you to stay put in future,” commented Biggles, drily, as he turned for home.