SERGEANT BIGGLESWORTH C.I.D.

The First post-war Biggles Story

by Captain W. E. Johns

CONTENTS – Page 1

ILLUSTRATIONS – Page 2

I. CRIME À LA MODE (Pages 3 - 13)

In this fundamentally important chapter, W. E. Johns sets the scene for all future Biggles books as Biggles becomes a policeman with the 'Air Police'.

The station HQ of "Biggles Squadron" has an air of abandoned disorder now the Second World War has ended. Biggles is introduced as "Squadron-Leader Bigglesworth" and he is sitting with his feet on a desk, with Ginger, Algy and Bertie, all that now remains of his squadron. Air Commodore Raymond arrives in civilian clothes and tells our heroes that he has been recalled to his old job at Scotland Yard - Assistant Commissioner. "Naturally, even while the war was on I realised that as soon as it was over we should have flying crooks to contend with. With fifty thousand men - and women - of different nationalities, able to fly aeroplanes, that was pretty obvious" says Raymond. Raymond has been asked to undertake the formation of a flying squad - in the literal sense. In the meantime a smart crook or gang is using an aircraft for crime and Raymond is asking Biggles for help. "Let me get one point clear, sir," interposed Biggles. "Should we handle this job as officers of the R.A.F. or as civilians, or police - or what?". "For pay and discipline you would come under the Yard, so it would mean leaving the Air Force. If you were willing I should enrol you in the Auxiliary Police, special service branch, attached to my department at the C.I.D. It would mean a drop in rank, pro tem (meaning for the time being). The best I could do for you would be detective-sergeant". "You wouldn't necessarily have to wear a uniform". Raymond tells our heroes about two robberies. The first was of pearls from a ship where nearly half a million pounds worth of pearls were stolen from a safe and sold a week before the ship even docked. The second was a plane flying uncut diamonds in South Africa, escorted by a fighter, where both were shot down and the crews killed and £330,000 worth of diamonds have vanished. Raymond receives a telephone call and then relays details of a third robbery where the pilot who flies the pay-roll from Nairobi in Kenya, to the Jaggersfontein Copper Mines in Northern Rhodesia has been shot down and killed. £43,000 mostly in silver, to pay the native workmen, has gone. Biggles concludes the plane used must be something exceptional, both in speed and range. Raymond tells Biggles that a £10,000 reward is being offered by the insurance companies plus 10% of the value of any gems or money recovered. "Should we be eligible for that - as official policemen?" asked Biggles shrewdly. "I'll put it in your contract if you like", says Raymond. Biggles, Algy, Bertie and Ginger agree to join the police on a temporary basis and investigate. The only clue they have is a description of a strange aircraft by a sailor who was a former plane spotter in the war. He saw a twin-engined job, with no fuselage, with two power eggs projecting far in front of the nacelle which tapered down to a single boom which carried the exceptionally long and narrow tail fin and had an oval rudder. Raymond asks our heroes to come and see him when they check in at the Yard and then he leaves.