SPITFIRE PARADE
- BIGGLES AT WAR
First Published in August 1941 - 256 pages
This contains thirteen chapters, many of which are rewrites of World War I Royal Flying Corps short stories, rewritten as World War II Royal Air Force short stories. The stories are:-
Chapter 1 - Biggles Takes Over
Biggles has been given command of 666 Fighter Squadron which consists of officers who do not take too kindly to discipline and for the first time we meet Lord Bertie Lissie, who will become a regular companion for almost all of the future books. This chapter also introduces two more of 666 Squadron's pilots, George 'Ferocity' Ferris and Tex O'Hara
Chapter 2 - The Coming of Carrington
Another pilot, Tug Carrington arrives and immediately shows his abilities by shooting down a German Junkers bomber.
Chapter 3 - The Arrival of Angus
Angus Mackail is flying down to join 666 Squadron but due to bad weather, he is forced to land in a field and charged by a bull. Later in a farmhouse he meets a jealous Canadian pilot called 'Nutty' Armand who takes him on a ride to remember. When both arrive at 666 Squadron, 'Nutty' finds that he is going to be joining the Squadron as well.
(The original version of this story was published in two chapters called
BIGGLES GETS A BULL and LOST IN THE SKY in BIGGLES IN FRANCE)
Chapter 4 - Taffy Trundles in
Taffy Hughes 'the Buster' is next to arrive and does so in some style. Taffy tries out a British tank and wreaks havoc
(The original version of this story was published in a chapter called
'STAND CLEAR - I'M COMING' in BIGGLES IN FRANCE)
Chapter 5 - One Good Turn
When Ginger gets into trouble with Flight Lieutenant Bitmore, Algy pretends to be an Air Commodore and Bertie pretends to be a Wing Commander to teach Bitmore a lesson.
(The original version of this story was published in two chapters called
UNDER OPEN ARREST! and THE LAUGH'S WITH US in BIGGLES IN FRANCE and then it was republished as REPRISALS in BIGGLES OF 266)
Chapter 6 - So this is War!
A Hurricane with the number K-4 shoots at and kills a British pilot and Biggles is out for revenge
(This story has a number of similarities with some earlier stories, most notably
J-9982 in THE CAMELS ARE COMING but I cannot identify it as a complete rewrite of any particular one)
Chapter 7 - Cuthbert comes - and goes
Cuthbert Mooney joins 666 squadron and he has a talent for mimicking machines.
Biggles takes Cuthbert on a flight over the channel and discovers that he also has other talents.
(This story was originally published in two chapters called
THE HUMAN RAILWAY and ORANGE FIRE! in BIGGLES IN FRANCE)
Chapter 8 - The Love Song
Biggles is sent by Raymond to France to recover plans for a special supercharger for radial engines.
Chapter 9 - The Coward
Henry Harcourt joins the Squadron and his bravery is questioned until the Germans kill his pet pig.
Chapter 10 - The Flying Spy
Biggles suspects that a visiting pilot is really a German spy. A trap is set, but all is not as it seems and it is left to Algy to save Biggles from making a tragic mistake.
(The original version of this story was published in two chapters called
SUSPICIONS and OFF AND AWAY in BIGGLES IN FRANCE)
Chapter 11 - The Record Breakers
Biggles and Wilkinson compete to see who can shoot down the most Germans in one day.
(The original version of this story was published in two chapters called
OUT FOR RECORDS! and BIGGLES' BOMBSHELL in BIGGLES IN FRANCE)
Chapter 12 - The Fortune of War
Biggles tells the tragic tale of what happened to young Tony Luke and the trick fate played on him.
Chapter 13 - Bertie Picks the Lock
Bertie takes a secret agent on a mission. When the agent loses his nerve Bertie has to do his job.
(The original version of this particular story was called
BIGGLES' EXCITING NIGHT and it had not been published in any book until 1997 when a collection of all previously unpublished stories were finally published in a limited edition of 300 books called BIGGLES - AIR ACE)
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Spitfire Parade
Subtitle - Biggles at War
Publication Details - published by Oxford University Press
Frontispiece
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