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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