BIGGLES SEES IT THROUGH
Book First Published in August 1941 - 254 pages
I believe this was the first Biggles book not to be serialised
elsewhere. If anybody knows differently
then please E-MAIL ME
The Air
Ministry have allowed Biggles, Algy, Ginger and Smyth to accompany a party of
volunteers to help Finland in their struggle against Soviet aggression. Whilst
on a reconnaissance flight, Biggles finds a dying Polish scientist called Petolski, who had been working on important experiments
with metal alloys for aircraft. He had the results of seven years' labour in a
portfolio with him and rather than let the research fall into German hands,
(Poland having been invaded by Germany), he has hidden it. The portfolio has
been hidden by the wreckage of the plane Petolski was
in when it crashed just over the Russian border. Reporting the matter to
Colonel Raymond, Biggles is instructed to recover the portfolio. Whilst
searching for the plane wreckage, Ginger discovers a party of Russians and
Erich von Stalhein is with them. An initial clash
with them confirms that they to are after the
portfolio. Von Stalhein is first to find the crash
and the portfolio but it doesn't take long for Biggles to take the papers off
him. Trying to take off from a frozen lake, Biggles hits an obstruction and
their plane is put out of action. Russian parachutists drop and they are
captured, but not before Biggles has a chance to hide the portfolio again. The
prisoners are handed over to von Stalhein, who tells
Biggles that unless the portfolio is handed over to him, he will have his
friends shot. Biggles agrees to take von Stalhein to
the papers and through a clever ruse manages to escape, steal the plane they
went in and return to rescue Algy, Ginger and Smyth. Stealing a sledge, our
heroes return to the lake where they crashed in order to get food from the
supplies on board the aircraft. However, fate has a trick to play on them and
they are all caught in an avalanche. Biggles is knocked unconscious and loses
his jacket. Algy captures a Russian bomber and they fly back to Finland where
Raymond is waiting for the papers. Biggles regains consciousness only to say
that the portfolio was in his missing jacket! Biggles flies back alone to find the
portfolio but a thaw has set in and his aircraft is unable to take off from the
frozen lake due to the amount of water now on the surface of the ice. Ginger
flies out (as prearranged) when Biggles fails to return and Biggles is able to
pass the portfolio to him. Biggles then tries to walk back to Finland but has a
dangerous encounter with a bear. He is saved by Ginger who has had his own
problems and had to land. Biggles and Ginger now have to return to the lake to
meet Algy who will be flying out when neither Biggles nor Ginger returns,
(again as prearranged). Before they do, Ginger hides the portfolio in a hollow
tree trunk. Arriving at the lake, Biggles is able to signal to Algy, but Algy
is shot down before he can fly away. Algy is able to join the others and they
all return to pick up the papers. However, now there is a Russian camp right on
the site and whilst gathering wood for fires, the papers have been found and
given back to von Stalhein! Biggles goes into von Stalhein's tent and relieves him of the portfolio at
gunpoint. Our three heroes then escape and using a
stolen boat hide out on a small island. Now desperate for food, Ginger raids a
nearby large house and finds von Stalhein is using it
as a base. Here, he sees a Swede named Olsen who is also flying with the Finns
and realises that he is a traitor working for the other side. When Biggles is
made aware of this he arranges to ambush Olsen, who is shot whilst trying to
escape. Stealing a single-seater aircraft, Ginger is sent with the portfolio
back to Finland. Ginger meets Smyth flying a flying boat and is able to lead
him back to rescue Biggles and Algy in the nick of time.
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles Sees it Through
Publication Details - published by Oxford University Press
Dustjacket
Frontispiece
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Dust jacket of the 1960 Brockhampton
Press reprint (NB – This is one of only FOUR Oxford books that were reprinted
by Brockhampton Press)
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Frontispiece of the 1960 Brockhampton
Press reprint
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