BIGGLES - CHARTER PILOT
Book First Published in July 1943 - 157 pages
These stories were first published, in sixteen parts, in Boy’s Own Paper in
various months (detailed below) between October 1941 and April 1944
The first edition dust jacket showing the original price of 5
shilling
This Australian dust jacket had the same cover illustration –
although the original price was 6 shillings and 6d
This book contains 16 short stories all of which are unusual in
that they consist of Ginger telling his comrades in 666 (Fighter) Squadron of
his adventures with Biggles when they were chartered by Dr. Augustus Duck
(nicknamed "Donald") to take him to investigate various strange
phenomena.
I – THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED ISLAND
Investigating a new island, our heroes find all the creatures on
the island far bigger than normal.
(The picture on the dust cover of the book of Biggles fighting off
a giant crab is from this story).
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in October
1941 as “The
Enchanted Island”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
II – THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABOMINABLE CAVEMAN
Biggles discovers that seal poachers are scaring away local
natives.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in January
1942 as “Bishimi
the Caveman”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
III – THE ADVENTURE OF THE HORTICULTURAL HERMITS
Descendants from Jesuits have discovered amazing plants that they
use to defend themselves.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in November 1941 as “The Horticultural Hermits”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
IV – THE ADVENTURE OF THE CROONING CROCODILE
Biggles exposes a charade that is being used to con local natives.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in December 1941 as “The Crocodile of Conga-Wonga”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
This is the original artwork from the 1941 magazine publication
(not from the book). It’s a brilliant image
and it’s in my private collection.
V – THE ADVENTURE OF THE OXIDIZED GROTTO
Our heroes seek and find a cave where everything inside is white
due to oxidisation.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in February 1942 as “Grotto of Death”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
VI – THE ADVENTURE OF THE PURPLE CLOUD
Tiny locusts growing in number cause problems in Nicaragua until
Biggles deals with them.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in March
1942 as “The
Purple Plague”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
VII – THE ADVENTURE OF THE PATAGONIAN GIANTS
A group of shipwrecked mariners have discovered a diet that
increases their height and strength.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in August
1942 as “Samson
of Patagonia”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
VIII – THE ADVENTURE OF THE MUSTY MAMMOTH
A thaw in Greenland uncovers some long frozen creatures and Ginger
reveals how he got his scar.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in September 1942 as “Adventure with a Mammoth”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
IX – THE ADVENTURE OF THE LUMINOUS LILY
A graveyard of crocodiles causes the plant life growing on it to
become phosphorescent.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in August 1943 as “The Luminous Lilly”
Click here to see the original
“Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
X – THE ADVENTURE OF THE SUSPICIOUS VOLCANO
The volcano, Xactapetl, in Mexico is being used as a hideout for
local villain, El Cuchillo.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in July
1942 as “Mexican
Man-Hunt”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XI – THE ADVENTURE OF THE HAUNTED CREEK
Biggles finds an explanation for the ghosts of Dead Cow Creek on
the Cooper River in Australia.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in June
1942 as
“Haunted”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XII – THE ADVENTURE OF THE GOLDEN SHIRTS
Descendants of shipwrecked Dutch mariners have been using the gold
on board their ship to wear.
(This short story has a number of similarities with BIGGLES AND
THE LOST SOVEREIGNS)
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in May
1942 as “Mystery
of the Golden Shirts” and featured a striking cover picture
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XIII – THE ADVENTURE OF THE INQUISITIVE DODOS
Everybody thinks the Dodo is extinct but Biggles and Co. know
otherwise.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in March
1944 as “Biggles
and the Dodos”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XIV – THE ADVENTURE OF THE COUNTERFEIT CRUSADERS
Biggles and Co. visit the Caucasus in Russia and find German spies
in disguise.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in February 1944 as “The Lost Crusaders”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XV – THE ADVENTURE OF THE GREEN HORSE
At the Hogger Mountains in the Libyan Desert, our heroes discover
a tribe of troglodytes.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in April
1944 as “Desert
Spectre”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
XVI – THE ADVENTURE OF THE SILENT DEATH
A new species of vampire bat has the ability to mesmerise its
victims before draining them of blood.
This was originally published in “Boy’s Own Paper” in January
1944 as “Secret
Weapon”
Click here to see the
original “Boy’s Own Paper” internal illustrations
Click here to see the story illustrations from the original HARDBACK first edition of this book
Click here to see the story illustrations from the PAPERBACK edition of this book
Biggles - Charter Pilot
Publication Details- published by Oxford University Press
The spine and cover illustration from the original Oxford first
edition
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail