THE RESCUE FLIGHT

by Captain W. E. Johns

III. FRANCE (Pages 35 – 49)

Thirty and Rip fly over the Channel to France. As they fly to the Lines they experience “archie” – being shot at by the German anti-aircraft guns – for the first time. The archie stops and they are attacked by a German aircraft. Luckily, a Camel arrives on the scene and shoots the German down. Thirty doesn’t know it yet, but it is being flown by Biggles. Two Camels fly close up to Thirty. “The pilot of the leading one pushed up his goggles, grinned broadly, and then raised both hands, thumbs pointing upward”. The leading Camel goes down to land at an aerodrome and Thirty and Rip follow it down to land as well. Thirty goes to thank his saviour and he is asked if his guns jammed. Thirty hadn’t even thought of shooting back at the German. “Where were you bound for, anyway?” he is asked. “What squadron is this?” returned Thirty evasively. “Two-six-six”. “Why, that’s the squadron we were making for,” declared Thirty, not untruthfully, since any squadron would have suited him. “Good! We can do with some new fellows. The Boche are keeping things lively, and I have some gaps in my own flight. My name’s Bigglesworth – Biggles for short”. They go and see the Recording Officer (who isn’t named but described as “a little, sandy-haired man, with a terrible scar on the side of his jaw”) and they say “Lieutenants Fortymore and Ripley reporting for duty, sir”. Thirty is asked about his brother whom the Recording Officer knows. They are introduced to Major Mullen, the C.O. (who is described as “a curly haired young man who could not have been a day more than twenty-five”). He gives them ten days to put in all the flying time and target practice they can. Both lads are posted to “B” flight. “Captain Bigglesworth will be your skipper”. They go to see Biggles, who says they are not to call him ‘sir’ and who also knows Thirty’s brother. “Not Forty of eighty-four squadron?” “That’s right. He’s – missing”. “I’m sorry to hear that. Bad show. I’ve met him once or twice, and he struck me as being an exceptionally good scout. Ah well, that’s the luck of the game”. Biggles is described as being “slight in build, his features were as delicate as those of a girl, as were his hands, which fidgeted continually with the throat fastening of his tunic. His deep-set hazel eyes were never still, yet held a quality of humour that seemed out of place in a pale face upon which the strain of war, and the sight of sudden death, had already graven little lines”. Biggles gives the two boys advice on war flying and then he has to have a word with the flight-sergeant about his kite; “She’s flying a bit right wing low”. Thirty says they have no kit and Biggles says they can get some small kit from Roddy, the mess secretary. “I can probably dig out an old suit or two of pyjamas. They may be a bit oily because on summer dawn patrols I sometimes fly in them – but that needn’t worry you”. When Rip and Thirty are alone, Thirty says “In a week or so, if our luck holds, I may get a chance to fly to Berglaken”.