BIGGLES DELIVERS THE GOODS

by Captain W. E. Johns

XII. HOW ALGY DITCHED THE GOSLING (Pages 100 - 106)

Algy flies to Madras and sees the members of 666 Squadron, including Angus Mackail, who is flying again "although he still showed signs of wear and tear, the result as he put it - of his "crumper" in Burma some months ago*" (a footnote adds * see Biggles in the Orient). He passes on Biggles' orders and two Lightnings take off. The Liberators are expected tomorrow morning. Algy flies back, the first five hours are devoid of incident, but then two Mitsubishi ship fighters from and aircraft carrier see him and he is in trouble! Algy is not equipped for fighting so all he can do is try to race for Elephant Island and hope he has more fuel than the fighters. The fighters attack and Algy dodges them but eventually he is hit and has to pancake in the sea. Eventually six destroyers sail towards him and pick him up and his plane is sunk by Japanese gunners. Giving only his name, rank and number, Algy refuses to answer any further questions and is taken to a small bare cell somewhere in the bottom of the ship where, eventually, he falls asleep.