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Biggles #22
Biggles Defies the Swastika
Biggles' old enemy Von Stalhein has heard that he is on a recon mission in Norway and is determined to track him down.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1941
16 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
W.E. Johns
570 books113 followersInvariably known as Captain W.E. Johns, William Earl Johns was born in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (née Earl), the daughter of a master butcher. He had a younger brother, Russell Ernest Johns, who was born on 24 October 1895.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 13, 2023
Minor amendments 14 November 2023
A very good Biggles story, moving along quickly with half-way plausible action: some of it genuinely thrilling, especially the flying.
Early in World War Two, Biggles is flying reconnaissance over Norway when the Germans invade and he finds himself marooned in occupied territory. With some daring, he uses a German motor cycle, without permission, to escape across the border into neutral Sweden. This is where the story gets interesting because British intelligence wants him to go back to Norway.
Biggles has to be brave and resourceful: he does not like spying and is never completely comfortable doing it. He goes back. On his own. For much of the early part of the story Biggles remains isolated among the enemy occupiers, and the Norwegians, who may nor may not be sympathetic to his cause. Ginger and Algy join him much later.
In this claustrophobic atmosphere Biggles masquerades among the Germans, one of his skills being passable German, while trying to avoid his arch nemesis Eric von Stalhein. The monocled Gestapo man has got wind of Biggles presence in Norway and has high-tailed it north to look for him. At one stage Biggles finds himself in the unusual position of searching for himself. The action builds pleasingly towards a climax involving warships and a British landing force, whose success will depend on Biggles help.
What’s it about? Adventure, definitely, but there is always more and in this case I think the key driver is loyalty to one’s comrades and that deeply British conceit that small nations should be aided in their struggle against tyranny and aggression. Pretty good. Strong three stars.
A very good Biggles story, moving along quickly with half-way plausible action: some of it genuinely thrilling, especially the flying.
Early in World War Two, Biggles is flying reconnaissance over Norway when the Germans invade and he finds himself marooned in occupied territory. With some daring, he uses a German motor cycle, without permission, to escape across the border into neutral Sweden. This is where the story gets interesting because British intelligence wants him to go back to Norway.
Biggles has to be brave and resourceful: he does not like spying and is never completely comfortable doing it. He goes back. On his own. For much of the early part of the story Biggles remains isolated among the enemy occupiers, and the Norwegians, who may nor may not be sympathetic to his cause. Ginger and Algy join him much later.
In this claustrophobic atmosphere Biggles masquerades among the Germans, one of his skills being passable German, while trying to avoid his arch nemesis Eric von Stalhein. The monocled Gestapo man has got wind of Biggles presence in Norway and has high-tailed it north to look for him. At one stage Biggles finds himself in the unusual position of searching for himself. The action builds pleasingly towards a climax involving warships and a British landing force, whose success will depend on Biggles help.
What’s it about? Adventure, definitely, but there is always more and in this case I think the key driver is loyalty to one’s comrades and that deeply British conceit that small nations should be aided in their struggle against tyranny and aggression. Pretty good. Strong three stars.
November 13, 2018
Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ and ‘Billy Bunter’ were my childhood go to books while ‘Biggles’ filled my early teens, so I just couldn’t resist when I came across the audio version of “Biggles Defies the Swastika” . Good wholesome fun in which Biggles outwits a not very smart set of Gestapo officers. Those guys were so naïve and trusting that I got a whole new understanding of why Hitler’s men lost the war. Good honest fun, but really only for the young.
April 8, 2013
Not long ago I reviewed a book by John Boyne on my blog Randomly Reading called The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket. This was a really good fantasy novel about a boy who floats and must be weighed down to stay on the ground. Barnaby has a dog named Capt. W.E. Johns, which caused me to laugh when I read that. There is no explanation why that is the dog's name, but I (and others, I am sure) know exactly who Johns is.
Captain W.E. Johns was a very prolific writer with 169 books to his credit. But he is probably best known for two of his series books: 96 'Biggles' books for boys and 11 'Worrals' books for girls. Worrals, or Joan Worralson, flies for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, part of the RAF. I reviewed Worrals of the W.A.A.F in 2011. Biggles, or James Bigglesworth, learned to fly in World War I and continued flying right into World War II and beyond.
Biggles Defies the Swastika (#22 in the series and written in 1941), begins in April 1940. A Major with the RAF, Biggles has been doing some work in Oslo when he wakes up one morning to discover that the Nazis have invaded Norway. Fortunately, Biggles has false identity papers naming him as Sven Hendrik, allowing him to pass as a Norwegian who supports the Nazis until he can get to his plane and out of Norway. Arriving at the aerodome in Boda on a stolen Nazi motorcycle, Biggles finds it is under Nazi control now. Somehow, Biggles fools the Germans into thinking he is a quisling who speaks fluent German and is made a leutnant on the spot by the German commandant there. Now under a safe cover, Biggles gets himself to the Swedish border on a his stolen motorcycle and crosses over to safety.
But not for long. At the British Consul, he is told to return to Norway to do some ntelligence spying and that his friends and fellow fliers Ginger and Algy will contact him as soon as possible. Back in Norway, he hears that the Germans are looking for a British pilot named Bigglesworth who was spotted in Oslo and wanted by the Germans. Luckily, as Sven Hendrik, Biggles is ordered to look for himself and given a Gestapo pass that will allow him freedom to get around without question.
Biggles soon discovers that his old nemesis Oberleutnant Erich von Stalhein is in Norway and is desperate to capture him. Biggles calls Gestapo headquarters and tells them he has information that Bigglesworth is in Narvik and he is on his way there. But along the way, he runs into some captured British sailors. He tells them he's really a British pilot and concocts a plan for them to tell their captors that they saw Bigglesworth escape. In Narvik, Biggles finds other British POWs, including his old friend Algy, who was sent over to help him. He manages to free all the prisoners, but is then ordered back to Boda Aerodome to be questioned by von Stalhein.
Before that can happen, Biggles is ordered to Stavanger airfield by the British to gather intelligence about Nazi defenses there and then to go to Fjord 21, where he runs into his other old friend Ginger. It is time to get out of Norway now that they have the needed intelligence, but Biggles refuse to go with Algy. Meanwhile, Algy, after being freed at Narvik has returned to Boda to find Biggles.
Biggles returns to Boda, finds Algy and they make their way to Fjord 21, Ginger in his plane and escape, only to find that the Fjord is now occupied by Nazis and that Ginger is missing. But not for long. Ginger tries to rescue Biggles and Algy, but things go wrong and Algy is again captured by the Nazis. Biggles, with the help of his Gestapo pass, learns that the British warships are sailing right into a trap. He can do nothing about it though because of growing suspicion about who he really is. He accepts a ride in a water plane back to Boda and von Stalhein, because he has no choice. During the flight, Biggles overtakes the pilot. Flying low enough for the German to jump into the water, Biggles orders him out, but not before telling him they must get together after the war and have dinner together (yes, he really did say that).
***SPOILER ALERT***
Now flying a German plane, Biggles is attacked by none other than Ginger. But then Ginger is attacked by a German plane and goes down. Luckily, Biggles is able to rescue Ginger, tells him about the trap the British warships are heading into and has Ginger drop him off to find Algy. Ginger delivers his warning, sets off to find Biggles and Algy, but is captured by the Germans. Meanwhile, Bigglesand Algy are also captured by von Stalhein at Boda. But when Ginger arrives with his German captor, the three of them manage to overpower him, steal a German plane and fly safely off to England and further adventures - lots of them!
All this action/adventure tokes place in only a few days. The back and forth between Oslo, Boda and Stavanger were a bit like watching a ping pong games with airplanes, but I never got confused, in part because of the simplicity of the writing. It is not great literature, is sometimes politically incorrect and everyone smokes, but Johns seems to have understood his young readers. There is just action, constant movement, and a feeling of being in control, something young readers probably found comforting in wartime Britain.
If you are going to read them for the first time, don't take them too seriously, just have some fun, after all, they feel a bit campy nowadays. And I thought the rivalry between Biggles and von Stalhein had shades of the later rivalry between Snoopy and the Red Baron. I did, however, learn that anti aircraft flak was refered to as archie, as in 'you will probably run into lots of archie when you fly a German Dornier over Britain.'
While I have read most of the Worrals books, I seem to only have Biggle Defies the Swastika - but I have two copies of it, somehow. And both smell like they just came out of my gram's attic. Luckily, since Biggles is still somewhat popular, now editions of his books have become available recently, for your reading pleasure.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This book was originally reviewed at The Children's War
Captain W.E. Johns was a very prolific writer with 169 books to his credit. But he is probably best known for two of his series books: 96 'Biggles' books for boys and 11 'Worrals' books for girls. Worrals, or Joan Worralson, flies for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, part of the RAF. I reviewed Worrals of the W.A.A.F in 2011. Biggles, or James Bigglesworth, learned to fly in World War I and continued flying right into World War II and beyond.
Biggles Defies the Swastika (#22 in the series and written in 1941), begins in April 1940. A Major with the RAF, Biggles has been doing some work in Oslo when he wakes up one morning to discover that the Nazis have invaded Norway. Fortunately, Biggles has false identity papers naming him as Sven Hendrik, allowing him to pass as a Norwegian who supports the Nazis until he can get to his plane and out of Norway. Arriving at the aerodome in Boda on a stolen Nazi motorcycle, Biggles finds it is under Nazi control now. Somehow, Biggles fools the Germans into thinking he is a quisling who speaks fluent German and is made a leutnant on the spot by the German commandant there. Now under a safe cover, Biggles gets himself to the Swedish border on a his stolen motorcycle and crosses over to safety.
But not for long. At the British Consul, he is told to return to Norway to do some ntelligence spying and that his friends and fellow fliers Ginger and Algy will contact him as soon as possible. Back in Norway, he hears that the Germans are looking for a British pilot named Bigglesworth who was spotted in Oslo and wanted by the Germans. Luckily, as Sven Hendrik, Biggles is ordered to look for himself and given a Gestapo pass that will allow him freedom to get around without question.
Biggles soon discovers that his old nemesis Oberleutnant Erich von Stalhein is in Norway and is desperate to capture him. Biggles calls Gestapo headquarters and tells them he has information that Bigglesworth is in Narvik and he is on his way there. But along the way, he runs into some captured British sailors. He tells them he's really a British pilot and concocts a plan for them to tell their captors that they saw Bigglesworth escape. In Narvik, Biggles finds other British POWs, including his old friend Algy, who was sent over to help him. He manages to free all the prisoners, but is then ordered back to Boda Aerodome to be questioned by von Stalhein.
Before that can happen, Biggles is ordered to Stavanger airfield by the British to gather intelligence about Nazi defenses there and then to go to Fjord 21, where he runs into his other old friend Ginger. It is time to get out of Norway now that they have the needed intelligence, but Biggles refuse to go with Algy. Meanwhile, Algy, after being freed at Narvik has returned to Boda to find Biggles.
Biggles returns to Boda, finds Algy and they make their way to Fjord 21, Ginger in his plane and escape, only to find that the Fjord is now occupied by Nazis and that Ginger is missing. But not for long. Ginger tries to rescue Biggles and Algy, but things go wrong and Algy is again captured by the Nazis. Biggles, with the help of his Gestapo pass, learns that the British warships are sailing right into a trap. He can do nothing about it though because of growing suspicion about who he really is. He accepts a ride in a water plane back to Boda and von Stalhein, because he has no choice. During the flight, Biggles overtakes the pilot. Flying low enough for the German to jump into the water, Biggles orders him out, but not before telling him they must get together after the war and have dinner together (yes, he really did say that).
***SPOILER ALERT***
Now flying a German plane, Biggles is attacked by none other than Ginger. But then Ginger is attacked by a German plane and goes down. Luckily, Biggles is able to rescue Ginger, tells him about the trap the British warships are heading into and has Ginger drop him off to find Algy. Ginger delivers his warning, sets off to find Biggles and Algy, but is captured by the Germans. Meanwhile, Bigglesand Algy are also captured by von Stalhein at Boda. But when Ginger arrives with his German captor, the three of them manage to overpower him, steal a German plane and fly safely off to England and further adventures - lots of them!
All this action/adventure tokes place in only a few days. The back and forth between Oslo, Boda and Stavanger were a bit like watching a ping pong games with airplanes, but I never got confused, in part because of the simplicity of the writing. It is not great literature, is sometimes politically incorrect and everyone smokes, but Johns seems to have understood his young readers. There is just action, constant movement, and a feeling of being in control, something young readers probably found comforting in wartime Britain.
If you are going to read them for the first time, don't take them too seriously, just have some fun, after all, they feel a bit campy nowadays. And I thought the rivalry between Biggles and von Stalhein had shades of the later rivalry between Snoopy and the Red Baron. I did, however, learn that anti aircraft flak was refered to as archie, as in 'you will probably run into lots of archie when you fly a German Dornier over Britain.'
While I have read most of the Worrals books, I seem to only have Biggle Defies the Swastika - but I have two copies of it, somehow. And both smell like they just came out of my gram's attic. Luckily, since Biggles is still somewhat popular, now editions of his books have become available recently, for your reading pleasure.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This book was originally reviewed at The Children's War
March 5, 2019
I have managed to read almost all of the Biggles books over the years. Most are fairly routine, but this is one of the standouts. Set against the German invasion of Norway in World War Two and written not very long after the events described, this book tells the story of what happens when Biggles, performing an undercover reconnaissance mission to scout out possible landing sites, is caught in Norway by the invasion. At the urging of his superiors he takes the very risky step of remaining behind enemy lines to exploit the unexpected opportunity, a position that becomes steadily more and more precarious as time goes on and his arch nemesis, Erich Von Stalhein, turns up.
One of the few Biggles books I read as a child this is one I have revisited over the years, and I expect that I will be pulling it out again whenever I feel the need for a thrilling story that isn’t too demanding.
One of the few Biggles books I read as a child this is one I have revisited over the years, and I expect that I will be pulling it out again whenever I feel the need for a thrilling story that isn’t too demanding.
June 2, 2019
Een aaneenschakeling van een onwaarschijnlijke reeks toevalligheden duwt Biggles in een kat- en muisspel met de Duitsers die net Noorwegen bezet hebben. Als spion tegen wil en dank is zijn leven in gevaar, toch kan hij Noorwegen niet verlaten. Eerst mag het niet, dan kan het niet en later wil hij niet. Ginger en Algy komen hem te hulp maar bakken er ook niet veel van. Om beurten worden ze gevangen genomen waarbij het aan de andere(n) is om voor de noodzakelijke redding te zorgen.
De oorlogsverhalen vind ik het minst interessant, dat verandert hier niet. Toch slaagt Johns er in om het spannend te houden van begin tot einde, al speelt het toeval een té grote rol om alle opeenvolgende avonturen mogelijk te maken. Volgepakt met aktie en spanning, de humor is ondermaats voor wat we gewend zijn bij de Biggles-avonturen.
De oorlogsverhalen vind ik het minst interessant, dat verandert hier niet. Toch slaagt Johns er in om het spannend te houden van begin tot einde, al speelt het toeval een té grote rol om alle opeenvolgende avonturen mogelijk te maken. Volgepakt met aktie en spanning, de humor is ondermaats voor wat we gewend zijn bij de Biggles-avonturen.
July 27, 2015
Action-packed from beginning to end, this gripping adventure features Biggles, his chums and his old adversary von Stalhein in occupied Norway during the Second World War. The twists, turns, devious disguises and splendid schemes come thick and fast as Biggles, Ginger and Algy evade the clutches of the Nazis again and again. One of the best Biggles stories I have ever read, which is high praise.
February 9, 2020
I loved it!
April 11, 2018
B17 This book was on my shelf for many years, but somehow unread...
Early moments of WW2, situated in Norway.
It nicely describes the mayhem after a Nazi conquest.
Was surprised to find members of the regular German army & officers,
expressing their attitude towards Gestapo & Nazi's
Early moments of WW2, situated in Norway.
It nicely describes the mayhem after a Nazi conquest.
Was surprised to find members of the regular German army & officers,
expressing their attitude towards Gestapo & Nazi's
August 21, 2024
This features a ridiculous number of coincidences - Biggles and his friends spend the book hopping all around Norway, getting captured by Nazis every chapter and yet still managing to run into each other hanging around every fjord they come across. The book sets a breakneck pace, the characters run from one set piece to the next with barely time to breathe, but it's a fun and gripping piece of fiction. I never even knew Norway was invaded by Nazis!
I also think that von Stalhein is losing his edge a little bit - he was a ruthless and calculating enemy when first introduced, but he's now been evaded a little too often. I wonder if Johns will come up with a way to make him menacing again. 4 stars.
I also think that von Stalhein is losing his edge a little bit - he was a ruthless and calculating enemy when first introduced, but he's now been evaded a little too often. I wonder if Johns will come up with a way to make him menacing again. 4 stars.
April 22, 2024
First published in 1941, 'Biggles Defies the Swastika' is a boys own type adventure tale in which plucky adventurer Biggles goes undercover in Norway in 1940 during the German invasion of that country. His mission seems to lack any definition, but is forgotten about as he goes galavanting around the country posing as a German pilot, easily outwitting some really thick Gestapo officers. This episode relies far more than usual on luck and the fore-mentioned thickoes, and also lacks the attention to detail that characterised the earlier WW1 stories. Nevertheless, an enjoyable fast paced tale.
July 10, 2023
4.2 out of 5. An interesting read. Written in the early years of the war when Britain had its back against the wall and the Nazis seemed to be unstoppable. The Narvik campaign was a disaster, but it portrayed as victory snatched from the jaws of defeat here.
In the story, Biggles strolls around the hotels and flying clubs of Norway without generating any suspicion and steals motorbikes, cars and planes at will.
An enjoyable read, and an interesting view of propaganda during the war.
In the story, Biggles strolls around the hotels and flying clubs of Norway without generating any suspicion and steals motorbikes, cars and planes at will.
An enjoyable read, and an interesting view of propaganda during the war.
May 31, 2025
Well, a hundred miles an hour, every chapter another harum-scarum out of the frying pan what could possibly go wrong now adventure to keep teenage boys reading and fantasising. This time Biggles and his mates are engaged in espionage as the Nazis invade Norway and our heroes do their utmost to embarass them. Quite entertaining, but read it with schoolboy eyes.
January 12, 2019
Good adventure with variety of characters
Easy to read, thoroughly good descriptions and characters. Takes me back to school days which was a long time ago.
Easy to read, thoroughly good descriptions and characters. Takes me back to school days which was a long time ago.
Read
November 30, 2019it's a reread project
February 2, 2020
Ye-e-s ... well, a bit of fun to read, but not half as good as his earlier Great War stories.
August 30, 2021
Jolly good fun. For what it is, it succeeds - a bit of rollicking if unrealistic fun.
One incidental thing I noticed - I don’t think there was one female in the entire story.
One incidental thing I noticed - I don’t think there was one female in the entire story.
July 23, 2022
Lots of fun reminding me of the Commando comics I used to read as a youngster.
June 4, 2023
Another classic Biggles adventure full of excitement and near disaster at every turn.
November 4, 2023
Anything with Von Stalhein is 5*
November 21, 2023
Fast paced ,action packed Biggles at his best ! One of my favourite Biggles books so far-and I've read quite a few of them - I don't often give a book five stars but this one deserves them !
February 11, 2024
It's simplistic and silly, but it's a kids book.
June 16, 2025
I remember reading some books of this series when I was young so I picked up this book for a leisure read. Not disappointed at all
December 22, 2025
I am reviewing the series as a whole, rather than the books individually
The Biggles series is great adventure fiction: we get high stakes, aerial action (in most of the books), and a hero who is endlessly loyal, competent, and calm under pressure.
I love the dogfights, recon missions, and wartime scenarios.
Where the series falls short is character depth. Some attitudes and simplifications reflect the period in which the books were written. There are very definitely dated elements, but considering the era the books were written - overall the series performs well. More than a few of the stories defy plausibility, but who doesn't love to curl up with a good adventure book or 10?
“Never say die.”
The Biggles series is great adventure fiction: we get high stakes, aerial action (in most of the books), and a hero who is endlessly loyal, competent, and calm under pressure.
I love the dogfights, recon missions, and wartime scenarios.
Where the series falls short is character depth. Some attitudes and simplifications reflect the period in which the books were written. There are very definitely dated elements, but considering the era the books were written - overall the series performs well. More than a few of the stories defy plausibility, but who doesn't love to curl up with a good adventure book or 10?
“Never say die.”
February 2, 2020
After a long time off from teen fiction, I decided to re-enter the genre with none other than the ageless pilot Captain Bigglesworth's air adventures. A recent reference to the series of books in an essay by Shashi Tharoor ploughed me back and I kickstrated with Biggles defies the Swastika.
Set in the back drop of the Nazi invasion of Scandinavia and the subsequent British resistance, the book is standard Captain W.E. Johns fare with Biggles, Ginger and Algey weaving themselves into one crisis to another. Johns cooks up situation after situation where the three heart stoppingly come close to achieving their means but managed to dive into further troubled waters. As mentioned by one of the other reviewer's, the highlight is the mid-air struggle between Biggles and a German pilot. The post struggle interaction with the cheery banter between the two is a clear reflection of the kind of hero WEJ wanted to make of Biggles.
There are at least two recurring themes which are noteworthy which may now be absent in modern books. First, the open mentioning of cigarettes and smoking. Back in the mid 20th century it was accepted for a teen hero to be projected as a smoker but I don't see that being repeated any time in this era. Second, the absence of Biggles gravely harming any of the Germans. The hero is shown as someone who is protecting the Empire while avoiding harm to the minions of the Enemy. In contrast this depiction of heroism is still common in media these days.
Overall the book is a fast read for anyone who is keen on a breezy adventurous read on a Sunday afternoon.
Set in the back drop of the Nazi invasion of Scandinavia and the subsequent British resistance, the book is standard Captain W.E. Johns fare with Biggles, Ginger and Algey weaving themselves into one crisis to another. Johns cooks up situation after situation where the three heart stoppingly come close to achieving their means but managed to dive into further troubled waters. As mentioned by one of the other reviewer's, the highlight is the mid-air struggle between Biggles and a German pilot. The post struggle interaction with the cheery banter between the two is a clear reflection of the kind of hero WEJ wanted to make of Biggles.
There are at least two recurring themes which are noteworthy which may now be absent in modern books. First, the open mentioning of cigarettes and smoking. Back in the mid 20th century it was accepted for a teen hero to be projected as a smoker but I don't see that being repeated any time in this era. Second, the absence of Biggles gravely harming any of the Germans. The hero is shown as someone who is protecting the Empire while avoiding harm to the minions of the Enemy. In contrast this depiction of heroism is still common in media these days.
Overall the book is a fast read for anyone who is keen on a breezy adventurous read on a Sunday afternoon.
January 23, 2013
This book must have been sitting on my shelf for at least 2 years. The reason is because I bought it and Biggles Learns to Fly as a pair and I was not impressed with the other one.
Fortunately, this one is a bit better; at least there is an actual story to it, where Biggles Learns to Fly consisted of Biggles getting shot down and fighting his way back to allied lines over and over again.
There’s nothing too deep going on here. It’s an adventure story that ten year old boys will like because there’s lots of action (though surprisingly for a war story Biggles never kills anyone)and no mention of… girls. The characters are cardboard and their complete lack of sex lives seems very unlikely but Captain W.E. Johns obviously knew his audience as these books were huge back in the day. Unlike more modern novels aimed at the YA market there isn’t much for older readers to enjoy here. In fact you may well wince when Biggles and his mates are locked up due for execution and they pull the old, ‘Hey, guard, get in here. This man’s sick!’ routine. I can’t imagine many Nazis would care if someone awaiting the firing squad has an upset tummy.
I once read that one of the rules of writing a James Bond film is that Bond never goes backwards. I never realized how important that was until I read this book. Biggles frequently escapes somewhere only to have to go back for some contrived reason. It gets very annoying.
Fortunately, this one is a bit better; at least there is an actual story to it, where Biggles Learns to Fly consisted of Biggles getting shot down and fighting his way back to allied lines over and over again.
There’s nothing too deep going on here. It’s an adventure story that ten year old boys will like because there’s lots of action (though surprisingly for a war story Biggles never kills anyone)and no mention of… girls. The characters are cardboard and their complete lack of sex lives seems very unlikely but Captain W.E. Johns obviously knew his audience as these books were huge back in the day. Unlike more modern novels aimed at the YA market there isn’t much for older readers to enjoy here. In fact you may well wince when Biggles and his mates are locked up due for execution and they pull the old, ‘Hey, guard, get in here. This man’s sick!’ routine. I can’t imagine many Nazis would care if someone awaiting the firing squad has an upset tummy.
I once read that one of the rules of writing a James Bond film is that Bond never goes backwards. I never realized how important that was until I read this book. Biggles frequently escapes somewhere only to have to go back for some contrived reason. It gets very annoying.
December 30, 2023
While on a routine scouting mission in Norway, Biggles is stranded in enemy territory when the Germans evade.
With his fake identity papers, he's in the perfect place to spy on the german efforts, he's also in constant danger, as one of the high ranking German officers knows Biggles by sight!
A fun romp, with a likable hero, action that was just on the border of unrealistic, a spoonful of history and very new reader friendly, if, like me, this was the first book you tried.
Only grumbles: about the third time Biggles almost gets out of Norway, but has to go back, for one more thing, I started to get annoyed.
Also, his two sidekicks, are likable, but not given enough description, so that you can tell them apart.
Hopefully, they get treated better in other books.
With his fake identity papers, he's in the perfect place to spy on the german efforts, he's also in constant danger, as one of the high ranking German officers knows Biggles by sight!
A fun romp, with a likable hero, action that was just on the border of unrealistic, a spoonful of history and very new reader friendly, if, like me, this was the first book you tried.
Only grumbles: about the third time Biggles almost gets out of Norway, but has to go back, for one more thing, I started to get annoyed.
Also, his two sidekicks, are likable, but not given enough description, so that you can tell them apart.
Hopefully, they get treated better in other books.
November 8, 2010
this is the best biggles book for me due to the cliffhangers at almost every end in each chapter. It narrates the incidents that occur between initial occupation of Norway by the Nazi armies during world war 2.
July 2, 2013
This is definitely one of the best Biggles adventures, set on a mysterious island in the North Atlantic. And it cantains perhaps the first ever description of BASE jumping in print. Read it to find out more!
August 7, 2016
In 1940, Biggles finds himself in Oslo with a Norwegian passport when suddenly the city is full of Germans. From there on it's full action until the last page.
This is supposed to be one of the better Biggles books and that seems plausible.
This is supposed to be one of the better Biggles books and that seems plausible.
July 21, 2021
Very good, however the second half seems a bit same-y, as it is mostly them trying to find each other and missing each other; basically trying to reunite. I say this, but there isn't that much sameness as different things happen each time, so it is still a good book.
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