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

READ ABOUT HOW THIS STORY WAS PLAGIARISED WHEN IT APPEARED AS “THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF HAIRY HARRY” IN 1950

 

 

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

 

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