Biggles And The Rescue Flight
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Book Description
Biggles is back! And with new retro-style covers he's bigger than ever.
Product Description
'We shall have to wait until they come out,' breathed Biggles. 'Jump out when I do and be ready to shoot like lightning. If they drop their rifles and put their hands up, all right, but any move by one of the to raise his rifle, let him have it. It's the only way. It's either they or we for it, and they won't hesitate to shoot us. Ssh! Here they come.'A sixteen-year-old boy learns that his beloved elder brother has gone missing from his squadron and decides to rescue him. With his friend, he runs away from school and they sign up in the RFC, lying about their age. They meet up with Biggles at 266 Squadron and join his flight - but will Biggles find them out?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really thought that this book was the best of the Biggles books that I have read so far. I found it intriguing how the book was mainly based around a character called 'Thirty' and not Biggles and his companions. Instead Biggles was in the background which shed a whole new perspective on him. I especially found the plot exciting and very original. I felt really involved and could not put the book down at all. Altogether a very good book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A REVIEW OF 'BIGGLES & THE RESCUE FLIGHT' BY CAPTAIN W.E. JOHNS
Of all of the literary heroes of the 20th century, surely none can boast of as many adventures as Squadron Leader James Bigglesworth. The brainchild of a genuine First World War pilot, Captain W.E. Johns, an astonishing ninety six Biggles titles were published between 1932 and 1970. Defying all known weapons as well as time itself (his inability to age in normal human terms across his literary life is the source of much discussion among fans and curious bystanders), Biggles is a true-blue warrior who looks danger squarely in the eye, whilst always playing by (or just within) the rules.
Being only the second of the Biggles canon that this reviewer has read, 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' comes highly recommended. Chronologically, it follows closely the 'first' (in terms of setting the scene if not the first that was written) novel, 'Biggles Learns To Fly'. However, whilst the former book offers sporadic thrills amidst an almost autobiographical and highly engaging account of primitive aerial combat during The Great War, 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' is much more of an out-and-out adventure, with the conflict as a backdrop.
The plot revolves around two school boys, nicknamed Rip and Thirty, who break free from the dorm' and escape to France where they join Biggles's squadron under false pretences. The reason for the lads absconding is the disappearance ("Missing. Presumed dead.") of Thirty's older brother, and their quest to prove the "Presumed dead" to be a wholly incorrect supposition. As such, from almost the third chapter in, the story writes itself, and those expected a twist-in-the tale will be disappointed. Written in 1939, as Britain was about to enter a second, even more harrowing conflict against the Germans, this is stiff-upper lip-stuff by the spadeful. However, Johns delivers the goods with such pace and spirit that it is impossible not to get swept along. Indeed, he describes the flying combat with remarkable energy and conviction, as only who has lived through such experiences could.
The novel was originally published as 'The Rescue Flight', which becomes less surprising given that Biggles here is not strictly the star of the show. The story's real driving force is Thirty, whose quest for his brother provides the tale's momentum. Biggles himself appears almost as the wise old sage, offering advice and caution to his young charges, a role that seems a trifle too mature for a relatively inexperienced pilot who was only in his late teens* at the time of the events being described.
Nevertheless, such points are trivialities that should not detract from the high dosage of derring-do on offer. 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' is what it is: a fast-paced and highly-entertaining adventure tale for boys, both young and old. As such, it neither preaches, nor overstays its welcome. If the remaining 94 titles are as good as this, it might well be a good idea to clock up plenty more air miles!
* Official estimates record Biggles as having been 'born' in 1899.
Of all of the literary heroes of the 20th century, surely none can boast of as many adventures as Squadron Leader James Bigglesworth. The brainchild of a genuine First World War pilot, Captain W.E. Johns, an astonishing ninety six Biggles titles were published between 1932 and 1970. Defying all known weapons as well as time itself (his inability to age in normal human terms across his literary life is the source of much discussion among fans and curious bystanders), Biggles is a true-blue warrior who looks danger squarely in the eye, whilst always playing by (or just within) the rules.
Being only the second of the Biggles canon that this reviewer has read, 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' comes highly recommended. Chronologically, it follows closely the 'first' (in terms of setting the scene if not the first that was written) novel, 'Biggles Learns To Fly'. However, whilst the former book offers sporadic thrills amidst an almost autobiographical and highly engaging account of primitive aerial combat during The Great War, 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' is much more of an out-and-out adventure, with the conflict as a backdrop.
The plot revolves around two school boys, nicknamed Rip and Thirty, who break free from the dorm' and escape to France where they join Biggles's squadron under false pretences. The reason for the lads absconding is the disappearance ("Missing. Presumed dead.") of Thirty's older brother, and their quest to prove the "Presumed dead" to be a wholly incorrect supposition. As such, from almost the third chapter in, the story writes itself, and those expected a twist-in-the tale will be disappointed. Written in 1939, as Britain was about to enter a second, even more harrowing conflict against the Germans, this is stiff-upper lip-stuff by the spadeful. However, Johns delivers the goods with such pace and spirit that it is impossible not to get swept along. Indeed, he describes the flying combat with remarkable energy and conviction, as only who has lived through such experiences could.
The novel was originally published as 'The Rescue Flight', which becomes less surprising given that Biggles here is not strictly the star of the show. The story's real driving force is Thirty, whose quest for his brother provides the tale's momentum. Biggles himself appears almost as the wise old sage, offering advice and caution to his young charges, a role that seems a trifle too mature for a relatively inexperienced pilot who was only in his late teens* at the time of the events being described.
Nevertheless, such points are trivialities that should not detract from the high dosage of derring-do on offer. 'Biggles & The Rescue Flight' is what it is: a fast-paced and highly-entertaining adventure tale for boys, both young and old. As such, it neither preaches, nor overstays its welcome. If the remaining 94 titles are as good as this, it might well be a good idea to clock up plenty more air miles!
* Official estimates record Biggles as having been 'born' in 1899.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the very first Biggles title my father read to me when I was a kid in the 1960's. It was always my favourite Biggles book during my youth. I recently bought a couple of Biggles titles in english and was very surprised to find them immeasurably better than the swedish translations (which, I discovered, are quite heavily censored, believe it or not).
Anyway, the plot in this one thrilled me as a youngster since the main characters are two school boys who escapes from school to join the young Royal Flying Corps. It was easy to identify oneself with the characters and their quest to free a brother from german captivity. The story is easy to read and can well be used as an introduction to reading english texts for those with another native language. It also serves well as an introduction to air warfare in the Great War, since W.E. Johns own experiences as a wartime pilot was from this era and he clearly shows insights in this matter.
Anyway, the plot in this one thrilled me as a youngster since the main characters are two school boys who escapes from school to join the young Royal Flying Corps. It was easy to identify oneself with the characters and their quest to free a brother from german captivity. The story is easy to read and can well be used as an introduction to reading english texts for those with another native language. It also serves well as an introduction to air warfare in the Great War, since W.E. Johns own experiences as a wartime pilot was from this era and he clearly shows insights in this matter.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of my favourites
I have very many Biggles books and this is one of my favourites. Okay so biggles doesnt have the major part in it which is taken by Thirty and his friend who run away from school... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Nick Webster
biggles or thirty?
I was very surprised about how the story is based on thirty's adventures and not biggles and his squadrons. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by man u
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