Basic "Biggles" Quiz - Captain W.E.Johns' Air Ace.

Answer: James

It is strange that the name "James" only comes up in a few books such as "The Boy Biggles". His initials are J.C. but Captain W.E.Johns never revealed what the "C" stood for. Even Biggles' only love, Marie, called him "Beegles" rather than by his first name.

Answer: Charles

Charles Bigglesworth is only mentioned in the very early WW1 books. Unlike Biggles he seems to have been ideally cut out for joining the army. At school he was Head Boy and an all round success. At first young James (Biggles) believes he will never live up to his older brother.

Answer: cousin

When Biggles is in 266 squadron in WW1 he learns that his younger cousin -Algernon Montgomery Lacey (Algy) is being sent to his squadron so that he can look after him. Very soon Biggles and Algy are best friends. It is on the friendship and comradeship that W.E.Johns concentrates for all the rest of the books.

Answer: Lissie

Lord Bertie Lissie is first introduced in "Spitfire Parade", the collection of "Biggles" stories that are about the "Battle of Britain". Later he joins Biggles, Algy and Ginger as a founder member of the special Air Police set up by Air Commodore Raymond.

Answer: 266

In WW2 Biggles is given his own squadron which is numbered 666 and known to everyone as "Biggles' Squadron". Major Mullen is in charge of 266 where Biggles is a Flight Commander during part of WW1.

Answer: north

In later books Ginger declares he comes from Yorkshire. However, in "Biggles and the Black Peril" when he makes his first appearance he says he has come from north of Newcastle and he first meets Biggles probably somewhere in County Durham. It is one of W.E.Johns' famous mistakes but "north" is definitely the right answer.

Answer: Sopwith

The first collection of "Biggles" stories was called "The Camels are Coming". In the last Biggles WW1 story the Sopwith Camel is about to be replaced by the Sopwith Snipe.

Answer: Raymond

Raymond first meets Biggles during WW1 and is the main reason that he got involved in "intelligence" work. Oddly, in spite of them being together for at least fifty years, Raymond nearly always calls Biggles by his full surname "Bigglesworth". He shares this habit with the series villain - Erich von Stalhein

Answer: Biggles and the Black Peril

The creation of the character of Ginger was a deliberate move by W.E. Johns to ensure that young boys read his stories. The early "Biggles" stories were aimed at the adult market. Ginger became Biggles' most favoured colleague, appearing in nearly all the adventures after "Biggles and the Black Peril".

Answer: Marie Janis

Not many "Biggles" fans seem to know that Marie Janis appears again in the much later book "Biggles Looks Back". Algy, Ginger and Bertie worry that Biggles will fall in love and get hurt all over again.

Answer: Wilkinson

Wilkinson survives the war and appears in several later "Biggles" books. Perhaps the best of these is "Biggles Flies North" where Wilkinson starts his own airline in northern Canada. During WW2 he commands a squadron of Hurricanes and is again Biggles' rival and friend.

Answer: Killed in action during World War 1

Charles Bigglesworth is only ever mentioned rather than presented in the stories. He had a very orthodox military career compared with Biggles' service in the Royal Flying Corps. His loss possibly contributes to Biggles' isolation and times of near despair during the worst periods of the war.

Answer: sergeant

Later Biggles makes it up the ranks to inspector. When the Air Police is formed in "Sergeant Bigglesworth C.I.D." he jokes that he, Algy, Ginger and Bertie will be known as the real "Flying Squad".

Answer: Spitfire

The collection of linked short stories about the Battle of Britain was called "Spitfire Parade", one of the few "Biggles" books without "Biggles" in the title. Later in the war 666 squadron used many different aeroplanes including Mosquitos, Lancasters and Liberators.

Answer: Biggles Does Some Homework

In the last incomplete adventure Biggles talks about retirement and takes into his team a young mixed-race assistant of exceptional ability who fits in well. The last completed adventure is "Biggles Sees Too Much".