BIGGLES FLIES TO WORK

Book First Published in September 1963 - 184 pages

These stories were first published in various annuals and periodicals.  I have noted below the titles the original publication details where known.

 

The first edition dust jacket – showing no original price – note that there are only eight Biggles titles on the back page ending with this title

 

This contains eleven short stories. The stories are:-

 

THE CASE OF THE LOST COINS (Pages 7 to 25)

Biggles is sent to Albania to recover a valuable collection of rare coins for the British Museum.

This story was never published elsewhere 

 

THE CASE OF THE OLD MASTERS (Pages 26 to 46)

Valuable works of art are being stolen and flown abroad. Various clues lead to the culprit.

 This story was never published elsewhere 

 

MYSTERY ON THE MOOR (Pages 47 to 68)

Ginger spots a plane on Dartmoor. This leads to the discovery of a crooked plastic surgeon.

 This story was never published elsewhere 

 

THE TWO BRIGHT BOYS (Pages 69 to 84)

Two boys build their own plane. Biggles warns them it is not safe to fly, as they later find out.

 This story was originally published in the 'Daily Mail Boys Annual' 1959 (by Associated Newspapers Ltd)

(These annuals are all undated and can only be distinguished by reference to the dust jacket picture.  This one features a boy diving)

 

HORACE TAKES A HAND (Pages 85 to 97)

A boy discovers a hideout on Dartmoor, which has been equipped to house escaped prisoners.

 This story was originally published in the 'Daily Mail Boys Annual' 1960 (by Associated Newspapers Ltd)

(These annuals are all undated and can only be distinguished by reference to the dust jacket picture.  This one features a helicopter)

 

BIGGLES LEARNS SOMETHING (Pages 98 to 110)

Horse racing meetings are being used by an old foe, Laxter, to fly criminals into the country.

 This was originally published in the Boy’s Own Paper  Volume 83, issue 8, dated May 1961

 

DANGEROUS FREIGHT (Pages 111 to 125)

Planes transporting gold are being made to crash when the air crew are poisoned.

 This was originally published in the Boy’s Own Paper  Volume 84, issue 9, dated June 1962

 

A ROUTINE JOB (Pages 126 to 141)

Biggles tracks down the supplier of Marijuana cigarettes.

 This was originally published in the Boy’s Own Paper  Volume 84, issue 3, dated December 1961 as “Routine Job”

 

DAWN PATROL (Pages 142 to 157)

Ginger spots an aircraft whose registration letters don't exist. This leads to heroin smugglers.

This story was published in ‘Stirring Stories for Boys’ 1960 (by Odhams Press Ltd)

There is ANOTHER story called “Dawn Patrol” that is in fact a completely different story!

That was originally published in the 1958 ‘Daily Mail Boys Annual’ and had to have its name changed

in order to be collected in “Biggles Flies to Work” with this story called “Dawn Patrol”!   Full details set out at the next story below

 

THE TRICK THAT FAILED (Pages 158 to 170)

An RAF accountant who has stolen £12000 is caught just as he plans to elope with his girlfriend.

 

This story was originally published in the ‘Daily Mail Boys Annual' 1958 (by Associated Newspapers Ltd) where it was titled “Dawn Patrol”

This story had to have its name changed to “The Trick That Failed” otherwise it would have had the same name as the previous story, also called “Dawn Patrol”  (See above).

(These annuals are all undated and can only be distinguished by reference to the dust jacket picture.  This one features a smiling boy holding a model aircraft)

 

THE CASE OF THE EARLY BOY (Pages 171 to 184)

When a plane drops stolen jewels, a diamond necklace found in a tree gives the game away.

This story was originally written as "Worrals Works it Out" and published in the 'Girls Own Paper' in September 1947 as a story featuring Worrals and her friend Frecks.

 It was subsequently rewritten by W. E. Johns and published in 'Stirring Stories for Girls' 1960 (by Odhams Press Ltd)

as 'Pearls and Primroses' with the two lead characters becoming police officer Margaret Robertson, and her assistant Jill Peters.

The Case of the Early Boy” was a THIRD version and this time the story becomes a Biggles story!

 

The dust cover of the book shows Biggles standing by an aeroplane.

 

There are no story illustrations in this book

 

Biggles Flies to Work

Subtitle - Some unusual cases of Biggles and his Air Police

Publication Details - published by Dean & Son Ltd.

 

Frontispiece

Click on the above to see it in more detail

 

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