BIGGLES
IN THE BALTIC
A TALE OF THE
SECOND GREAT WAR
by Captain W.
E. Johns
First published
June 1940
CONTENTS
List of illustrations – Page 7 (Frontispiece by Howard Leigh and six
illustrations by Alfred Sindall on pages 33, 73, 107, 139, 187 and 249)
I. THE
CALL TO ARMS (Pages
9 – 16)
The book opens with “As the momentous
words ‘England is now, therefore, in a state of war with Germany’ came sombrely
over the radio, Major James Bigglesworth, D.S.O., better known as Biggles,
switched off the instrument and turned to face his friends, Captain the
Honourable Algernon Lacey, M.C., and ‘Ginger’ Hebblethwaite. There was a peculiar smile on his face. “Well, that’s that. It looks as if we are in for another spot of
war flying”. Within minutes they get a
telephone call from Colonel Raymond at Air Intelligence as he wants them to go
along to see him at the Air Ministry immediately. They get a taxi to the Air Ministry. Raymond tells them “At a time like this we
need our best men for special jobs” and he asks if they are willing to come
into the service. “What about Gin – I
mean Hebblethwaite? He hasn’t been in
the regular service yet”. Raymond says
he will have him gazetted as a pilot officer right away. With regard to the job they are being asked
to do, Raymond says it was specially created for Biggles. He points out the Baltic Sea on a map and
says that “we” have acquired from a country an uninhabited island, so small as
to be negligible. Its name is Bergen Ait
and a cave has been worn into the very heart of the rock that is large enough
to house several aircraft. The aircraft
and supplies are already there, all ready for “Z” Squadron – as it has been christened
- to take over. The only way to get
there is by submarine and the job is for volunteers. The Air Commodore says “You needn’t take it
on if -”. “I don’t think we need discuss
that, sir,” interrupted Biggles. Raymond
asks when they can start and Biggles says now.
Raymond says “To-day is Sunday; I will arrange for you to embark on
Wednesday morning”. (Chamberlain’s historical announcement as to
the start of the war was made at 11.15 am on Sunday 3rd September
1939). Raymond adds that Bergen Ait
is no great distance from Kiel where an old acquaintance of Biggles is in
charge – Erich von Stalhein. The Colonel
holds out his hand and says “Good luck”.
“We shall do our best, sir,” promised Biggles.