BIGGLES IN BORNEO
Book First Published in July 1943 - 185 pages
I believe this Biggles book was never serialised elsewhere. If anybody knows differently then please E-MAIL ME
I have two first editions of this book
with slightly different dust jackets – I point out the differences below
Above is the original First Edition
Dust Jacket – Version ONE – note the word “winning” in the SECOND line of the
text on the front flap
Above is the original First Edition Dust
Jacket – Version TWO – note the word “winning” is now on the FIRST line of the
text on the front flap
The dust jacket has been reprinted with
the front flap bigger. As a consequence,
the cover artwork is slightly smaller and the back page is also smaller than
the first version.
The first edition Dust Jacket is not to
be confused with this SECOND edition Dust Jacket where the list of books on the
back differ and are in RED ink rather than BLUE ink. The near mint jacket above is unrestored.
The word “winning” is again on the
FIRST line BUT the wording of this front flap still differs from BOTH versions
of the first edition. Note the word
“Philippines” is on one line and not hyphenated over two lines.
The 1973 White Lion reprint is
surprisingly rare – and if you do find a copy it will almost certainly be an
ex-library one. The original price was
£1.25, this one has had a new price sticker put on.
CHAPTERS
Click on any chapter for a summary of the events in that chapter or
see the general story summary below
XIII – ADVENTURES ON THE RIVER
Biggles
is asked to take 666 squadron to Borneo to fight against the Japanese from a secret
airfield. Captain Rex Larrymore had discovered the airfield prior to the start
of the war when he had to make a forced landing in Borneo. Larrymore has
befriended the local natives, dangerous headhunters, and had set up as a
prospector with a good supply of fuel and oil on this airfield, which he had
named "Lucky Strike". The base is used to good effect for initial
attacks on the Japanese. Our heroes are also able to rescue three men, Jackson,
Gray and Flannagan who have escaped from Cotabato on the island of Mindanao.
They have tales to tell of the brutality of the Japanese commandant there, a
man called Yashnowada. While flying as rear gunner for Algy in a Beaufighter
aircraft, Ginger finds that a deadly Krait snake has got on board the aircraft.
Algy makes an emergency landing but his plane is wrecked and the Japanese
capture both Algy and Ginger. They are transported by submarine to Cotabato.
Biggles is soon on their trail and with the help of Suba, the chief of the
headhunters they capture a Japanese soldier to find out more information.
Launching an air attack and dropping escape equipment to Ginger and Algy,
Biggles and his squadron succeed in not only freeing Ginger and Algy but also
approximately 40 other prisoners from Cotabato. Soon after, the Japanese
discover Biggles' secret airfield and make plans to attack it. One of the
escaped prisoners is a Chinaman called Fee Wong. He has information about a
convoy of 100 Japanese barges loaded with rubber and Biggles is asked to
destroy them. Biggles sets off with Algy, Ginger and Fee Wong, in a Cayman
flying boat with just enough petrol to get to Sarawak, where they are located,
and back. However, the monsoon arrives early and the weather conditions call
for the use of so much petrol that the machine is unable to return without
refuelling. Landing at the saw mills of Telapur on Sarawak, Fee Wong makes
contact with his brother and by making use of the monsoon flooded river and the
bravery of a Malay called Kayan, Biggles is able to destroy the barges. With
the flying boat caught up in the flooded river, Biggles and Ginger find
themselves separated from Algy and Fee Wong. Biggles uses a surviving barge to
get himself and Ginger back to Algy and the plane. By using a captured Japanese
uniform, Ginger lures a Japanese flying boat down allowing Biggles to steal the
aviation fuel. Returning to "Lucky Strike" airfield, our heroes find
the Japanese in all out attack, with wave after wave of bombings and more
troops trying to force their way through the jungle to the airfield. Repairs
are made to the runway and Ginger is forced to fly their Liberator supply plane
away towards Australia to avoid it being destroyed in the next attack. Ginger
finds an Australian aircraft carrier and is able to return with a squadron of
Fairey Fulmars to fight off the Japanese bombers. Suba and his headhunters deal
with the attacking ground force and they return with Yashnowada's head on a
spear. With their airfield safe, Biggles hands over to the Royal Australian Air
Force. The dust jacket depicts the headhunters as a plane flies overhead.
Click here to see the story illustrations from the original HARDBACK first edition of this book
Biggles in Borneo
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
Dust jacket of the 1960 Brockhampton Press reprint (NB – This is
one of only FOUR Oxford books that were reprinted by Brockhampton Press)
Click on the above to see it in more detail
Frontispiece of the 1960 Brockhampton Press reprint
Click on the above to see it in more detail