BIGGLES IN SPAIN
First Published in May 1939 - 256 pages
Biggles
is on a cruise after being advised by his doctor that he needs a rest. Algy and
Ginger are travelling with him. To their surprise, the ship is attacked and
sunk off the coast of Spain. Biggles, Algy and Ginger swim to the shore and
find themselves in Barcelona. Going for a drink in a bar-restaurant called 'Casa
Reposada' turns out to be a big mistake. Our
heroes are plunged into espionage when a man called Fraser, who Biggles once
met, gives him a coded document that must be taken to the British Foreign
Office. Fraser is killed by a hunchback called Goudini
just as Biggles, Algy and Ginger escape through the back entrance. Here they
are given a lift by a mysterious man who takes them to a hotel and then pulls a
gun on them. Some quick thinking and a little luck allows Biggles to trick the
stranger and hand over just the envelope. The stranger leaves only to be shot
dead by Goudini. Goudini
searches Biggles, Algy and Ginger and when he cannot find the document, he
arrests all three of them. Imprisoned in a cell in an army barracks, Biggles
persuades an American soldier fighting for the Spanish to get them a file. With
this they all escape and return to where the document has been hidden. However,
it is all a clever trap and Biggles and Algy are again arrested while Ginger
escapes with the document. Ginger is disguised as a soldier and accidentally
finds himself being loaded onto a troop transporter to
the front line trenches in the Spanish Civil War where he is expected to fight
against General Franco's fascist Spanish troops. Here he befriends a cockney
called Fred Summers. Ginger is forced to spend some days in the trenches as
deserters are shot. However, he is able to save the life of a pilot who he sees
being shot down. This pilot is called Jock McLannoch
and after hearing that Ginger is also a pilot he makes arrangements to have him
transferred from the front line to his squadron. Ginger is looking for a chance
to return to Barcelona to find out what has become of Biggles and Algy. Taking
Jock into his confidence, Ginger finds out that Biggles and Algy have been
tried and sentenced to be shot. Ginger gives Jock the vital document and sets
off to Barcelona to try to rescue Biggles and Algy. This he successfully does
after some considerable adventures, which include shooting Goudini.
Returning to Jock's aerodrome with Biggles and Algy, they find that Jock has
been shot down. Biggles and Algy steal a captured Caproni
aeroplane whilst Ginger has to fly in a separate aircraft with his squadron.
Confusion and mistake lead to Ginger being shot down by another Caproni aircraft. Biggles and Algy land to try to help
Ginger but are captured by Franco's troops and held in a prisoner of war camp.
Ginger, who has parachuted to safety, infiltrates his way into the prisoner of
war camp, with the help of Fred Summers, who has also been captured by the
Spanish. Ginger had helped Fred get away from his work party. Fred tells Ginger
that Jock is also in the prisoner of war camp. With a pair of wire cutters,
Ginger gets everybody out, Biggles, Algy, Fred, Jock and himself. Biggles then
hi-jacks a car being driven by two Spanish officers and he has their uniforms
off them as well. Driving to a Spanish aerodrome, Biggles and his party are
able to steal another Caproni. There then follows a
desperate flight to France, being chased by Spanish fighters, with Biggles just
making it over the border. The document is later safely delivered to the
Foreign Officer but Biggles doesn't even get to find out what it contained!
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Biggles in Spain
Publication Details - published by Oxford University Press
Frontispiece
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