BIGGLES IN AUSTRALIA

by Captain W. E. Johns

II. WIDE OPEN SPACES (Pages 21 – 32)

“The arrangements made by Biggles for his Australian assignment were rather more involved than usual on account of the peculiar conditions in which they would have to operate. Where the quest would eventually lead them was an unknown quantity, (This is a phrase Johns liked using. He called one of his adult books, published in 1940, ‘The Unknown Quantity’), and, as he told the others, it was as well to be prepared for anything. They were going to a continent, not a country, and while it was now well provided with aerodromes the distances between them was a factor that would have to be considered in conjunction with refuelling”. The Sea Otter, being an amphibian, could operate from both land or water, and was ideal for investigating the islands. It would be able to refuel at several landing grounds strung out along the coast between Perth and Darwin, but it hadn’t the endurance range of the Halifax, with its special tanks. They chose Broome as their base, a port on the coastal route, although the Otter arrived first at Port Darwin. “Biggles had written a personal note to West, one of the control officers he had met on a previous occasion at Port Darwin, (West appears in Chapter 4 of “Biggles Works it Out”), asking him to check up on the aircraft in which the “shipwrecked sailors” had left the town. From where had it come and to where had it gone?” Von Stalhein’s boat had been spotted about twenty miles seaward from the south of Broome. Biggles excuse for being in Australia was an equipment test in varying overseas conditions. Biggles goes to see West. “What is it this time – another gold swindle?” inquired West, smiling (this is a reference back to “Biggles Works it Out”). “Nothing like it,” answered Biggles. “Strictly between ourselves, we’re looking for somebody, and we thought he might be in that party I told you about in my letter”. West is able to tell them that the men were collected by a “Quantas Airways” Lockheed. (Johns has spelt QANTAS with a U, whereas it is an acronym standing for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services”). It flew up from Brisbane and flew back to Brisbane. The pilot, Jimmy Alston, thinks the people didn’t stay there because he later saw them hanging about the airport. Payment was made by a man called Smith in cash. Biggles receives a message from a pilot who has just flown in from Singapore. It is from Algy and it says that they are hung up with a spot of engine trouble. “Nothing serious; but it may be a day or two before he can get away”. At Biggles request, West rings a man called Len Seymour, to find out what happened to the lifeboat that von Stalhein’s party was in. The answer is that it was pulled up high and dry and left on the beach. Biggles and Ginger go and have a meal in Darwin (Johns has the opportunity to mention “a modest monument was erected to the memory of Ross Smith, the airman who, in his Vickers Vimy, first touched down on what was to become the first airport in Australia” – something that Johns wrote about in chapter 15 of his 1935 book “Some Milestones of Aviation”). The next morning Biggles and Ginger fly out to where the lifeboat was first spotted and then turn north, searching for islands. “To narrate in detail the hours that followed would be monotonous reiteration. Suffice it to say that several islands were examined without result. Biggles’s method was to cruise low over the foreshore while Ginger watched for signs of wreckage”. On one occasion they land on a lagoon when they see wreckage, but it is an old wreck. Around four o’clock, they find a suitable lagoon to land on, with a view to spending the night on a beach. They have tea and a swim and then make preparations to spend the night ashore.