“BIGGLES” OF THE CAMEL SQUADRON

by Capt. W. E. Johns

II. THE JOY-RIDE (Pages 35 – 46)

Biggles is complaining about the lack of Germans in the air to fight. He asks Algy where is the Albatros that he, Algy, bought down yesterday. Algy says it is in the old ‘C’ Flight hangar and the aircraft is undamaged as the pilot had stalled and had been forced to land. Biggles and a group of pilots go over to the hangar and Biggles gets in and starts the plane up. He decides to take off and immediately comes under fire from British soldiers nearby and so he has to gain height. Biggles then comes under anti-aircraft fire and so has to take cover in the clouds. Biggles then sees in the distance a British R.E.8 flying a figure of eight, doing a “shoot” for the artillery. He can also see specks in the sun. The R.E.8 is about to be attacked by German aircraft and is clearly unaware of the fact. Biggles flies towards the R.E.8 and his German markings cause the plane to dive for home, thereby saving it from attack. The arriving German Albatroses then form up around Biggles and he finds himself in a difficult situation. He can hardly attack the Germans in a German marked plane. “Once such a practice was started there was no telling where it would stop; an impossible state of affairs might easily be created. No man would trust another in the air, irrespective of the type of machine or nationality marks, and it might end by friends shooting each other down by accident on mere suspicion. People would shoot first and ask questions afterwards”. Biggles wants to get back to his own lines but finds it hard to get away. He is under close observation by a German pilot in a bright yellow machine. Biggles stays with the Germans until he is well over the German lines to avoid suspicion and then drops back, but the yellow machine stays with him. Suddenly, they are both attacked by half a dozen British S.E.5s. In fact, it is Biggles’ good friend Wilks who is attacking Biggles! “Nearly panicking, for the first time in his life, he threw the machine into a spin, came out, spun again, pulled out again, then zigzagged for the Line”. The yellow German plane is shot down in flames. Biggles is still being chased by Wilks. (Falling out of a wild loop he looked around anxiously. The S.E. was still on his tail - is the illustration opposite page 44). Biggles does the only thing he can do, he puts his hands up and surrenders. Wilks indicates for Biggles to land the German machine and Biggles does so “but as he flattened out he realised that he had come in much too fast” and Biggles crashes the plane. Luckily, Biggles is unharmed. Wilks lands and goes to take the “German” prisoner. “Who do you think you’re knocking about?” snarled Biggles. “Can’t a fellow have a joy-ride without your crowd butting in and spoiling it?”