BIGGLES GOES TO WAR
Book First Published in May 1938 - 256 pages
This story was first published, in ten parts, as BIGGLES GOES TO
WAR in The Modern Boy,
issues 503 to 512, dated 25th September 1937 to 27th
November 1937
I believe this to be a 1942 reprint dust jacket. It shows two Biggles books published in 1941
on the back. Price unknown, but the
original price of the first edition book was 3/6.
CHAPTERS
Click on any chapter for a summary of the events in that chapter or
see the general story summary below
IX BIGGLES MAKES SOME SUGGESTIONS
XI THE BRIDGE AND A CAPTURE
XII A BLOW, AND A DESPERATE MISSION
XVII GINGER TAKES THE WAR-PATH
XIX GINGER GETS A PRISONER AND A SHOCK
Biggles
is approached by Count Max Stanhauser, the Maltovian Ambassador in London and
asked to help the Country of Maltovia by starting an Air Force for them, to
protect them from their strong and intimidating neighbour, Lovitzna. Biggles
decides to help after he receives a visit from Zarovitch, the Lovitznian
Minister in London, which was designed to put him off. Taking Algy and Ginger
with him, as well as Flight-Sergeant Smyth and Smyth's brother-in-law, Corporal
Carter as ground crew, Biggles goes to Maltovia. Their trip is not uneventful
as Biggles, Ginger and Algy fly three Launcester 'Lance' aeroplanes out.
Arriving in Maltovia, Biggles immediately takes a dislike to General Bethstein,
the Commander-in-Chief of the Maltovian forces. After Princess Mariana of
Maltovia makes a morale boosting visit to our heroes, it is not long before an
arsonist burns down their aircraft hanger. Algy shoots the arsonist dead and
recognises him as an aide of General Bethstein. Biggles has had the foresight
to move their aircraft from the hanger so little damage is done. Biggles has a
plan. He forces a Lovitznian plane to land and then uses it to bomb the bridge
that carries the only connecting road between Lovitzna and Maltovia. Disaster
strikes when Count Stanhauser returns from England to Maltovia and is captured
and held in Lovitzna. Algy flies Biggles and Ginger in to free him. With the
help of a spy, Biggles finds out that the Count is being held in a hotel in
Shavros. Using Ginger to create a "smashing" diversion outside the
hotel, Biggles enters with his gun and gets the Count out. However, escape
proves difficult. Ginger steals a car but it starts snowing heavily and the
weather forces Algy to return to Maltovia. Biggles, Ginger and the Count have
to struggle to the border and this includes being chased by wolves and crossing
a river under fire. Algy returns as the weather improves and is able to rescue
them but there is a surprise awaiting Biggles on his return to Maltovia. He and
Algy are both arrested. Ginger avoids arrest by remaining concealed. General
Bethstein tries Biggles and Algy for espionage and both are sentenced to be
shot at dawn. Ginger seeks assistance from Count Stanhauser's nephew, Ludwig
and goes to General Bethstein's mansion where he finds overwhelming evidence of
the General's treason, particularly when Zarovitch is also found there. Using
loyal soldiers provided by Ludwig, the General is confronted and forced to sign
an order stopping the execution of Biggles and Algy. Ginger then has to make a
desperate aerial dash to where the execution is to be carried out and drop the
order stopping it. It turns out that Zarovitch is a Lovitznian Prince and by
holding him prisoner, Maltovia now has a strong hand to play in the political
battle with Lovitzna. With the crisis now passed, Biggles, Algy and Ginger can
return to England.
Click here to see the story illustrations from the original HARDBACK first edition of this book
Click here to see the story illustrations from the PAPERBACK edition of this book
Biggles Goes to War
Publication Details - published by Oxford University Press
The spine and cover illustrations from the original Oxford first
edition
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail