Biggles and Bertie Trivia Quiz

Answer: Spitfire Parade

The reader learns about Bertie Lissie before he actually enters the story for Air Commodore Raymond writes a letter describing him to Biggles as the new 666 squadron is formed.

Answer: Cissy

The name "Cissy" had been coined because of his appearance. He is first described as having "a wisp of hay-coloured moustache and a rimless eye-glass"" and "small aristocratic features". However, Bertie's record as a fighting pilot gives a lie to any idea of softness.

Answer: Towser

Bertie declares to Biggles that he is just giving his dog some exercise. In the last story in "Spitfire Parade" Towser succeeds in making Biggles damage his wrist by suddenly darting in through the door and causing Biggles to trip and fall heavily. The result is that Bertie has to go on the secret mission in stead of Biggles.

Answer: Between 30 and 40

The exact total given by Ginger is 32. Strangely enough Bertie is the only character amongst the four comrades who gets given a final tally of aircraft destroyed. Both Biggles and Algy would, of course, be able to include the enemy machines they destroyed in World War I.

Answer: A dog seizes hold of his turn-ups as he climbs a tree to escape.

Bertie is very much a dog lover but the two Alsatians that chase him have been trained to be very aggressive. For a while Bertie is trapped in the tree and manages to play the silly ass in order to deceive the crooks. Later, at the end of the book when he learns that the villains have shot the dogs, he gets very angry.

Answer: A Halifax

When they get down safely it is Bertie who persuades Biggles that after making their repairs they should stay put and not travel back all the way to Dacca. Bertie points out that they can make their rendezvous to pick up Algy and Ginger without the long journey to Pakistan and back. Biggles falls in with this idea.

Answer: Maria

Maria sits on Bertie's lap at the end of her dance act. However, Bertie immediately pushes her off and she slaps his face. Biggles comments later to Maria, "He meant no offence. He is afraid of women." In fact Bertie is the only one of the four comrades who never has any sort of relationship with a woman.

Answer: To cut a piece off his other leg to get them both the same length again.

Bertie received his injury as a result of an duel with Von Zoyton. Bertie defeats the German but gets a bullet wound in his right leg. He complains to Biggles when the surgeon refuses to cut the piece off his left leg. He declares,"But the silly ass wouldn't do it."

Answer: They each placed various objects in one of their eyes in imitation of his monocle.

The refreshment that they are actually provided with is a bowl full of goat's milk.The killing of the tiger is just an incidental part of the mission that Biggles and Bertie are trying to complete. In fact they are in search of a Chinese merchant called by the unlikely name of Mr.Poo.

Answer: He claps a cooking pot on to his head and then sits on him.

It is earlier in the same book that Bertie got away from the enemy by pretending he was slightly mad. He kept telling the leader of the crooks that he was flying round the Indian Ocean islands because he was collecting sharks' teeth. Once again Bertie's eccentric behaviour hides a strong streak of low cunning.

Answer: He allows him to be stranded in a rubber dinghy in the path of the enemy ship.

Biggles informs Eddie Ross that Bertie is always coming up with dangerous schemes which he always turns down. On this occasion he allows Bertie to go ahead only after the original idea is modified so that Bertie has more chance of surviving. Originally Bertie wanted to be left in the water rather than in a dinghy.

Answer: Zahar

Abu bin Hamud, Kuatim and Zahar set off into the desert to get the new drug called ghurra. However, Abu bin Hamud betrays his comrades and takes the water and leaves them for dead. Kuatim dies but Zahar is rescued by Biggles & Co. Later Bertie and Zahar form a strong team when they save Biggles and Ginger from Ambrinos, the chief villain.

Answer: Biggles Works it Out

When Marcel tells his story to the rest of the team he is horrified that he came so close to being shot down. Ginger points out to Marcel that if Bertie had meant to shoot him down then he would have been shot down. They all realise that Bertie has successfully infiltrated the crooks' organisation. They also know he doesn't have enough fuel in the Hurricane to make a getaway.

Answer: Dizzy Digswell

Dizzy believes he has found an ancient treasure from the legendary city of Ophir. Unfortunately whilst he and Bertie are digging for treasure they are trapped by a roof fall. Bertie shows his "never say die" spirit by continuing to dig even after Dizzy has given up.

Answer: Chedcombe Manor

The subject comes up when Biggles contemplates a trip behind the Iron Curtain to see his old love, Marie Janis. It is curious that Biggles chooses Bertie to be his companion on this venture rather than Ginger or Algy. In fact Algy is the most worried about the effect on Biggles of seeing Marie again.