Biggles in the RAAF

[Author's Note: This little known interlude in Biggles' WWII career (so little-known, in fact, that WEJ appears to have been completely unaware of it!) can finally be revealed. Biggles and the boys of 666 head Down Under to help repel the threatened Japanese invasion in the dark days of 1942. How did this come about? Where did they serve? What did they DO?

After years of meticulous research, your correspondent can finally reveal the true story of Biggles and boys in the RAAF.]

[Disclaimer – I do not own Biggles, Algy, Ginger, Bertie or any of the 666 boys, nor Raymond. These remain the property of the copyright holder of WE John's estate. I do, however, retain intellectual ownership of the characters Ken Mortensen, Jack Somers, Ted Edgars, Major-General Edgars, members of Ted's family, Tom, Rev Barnes, ]

Again, I must point out that this story has been previously published on another site - under the User name RAAF Spitfire Girl, so there is no plagiarism involved.

Prologue - Biggles is Restless

February 1942 – Rawlham, somewhere in Kent, England

Squadron Leader Bigglesworth, (known in every Air Force on Planet Earth as 'Biggles') replaced the telephone receiver with great care, drummed his fingers on his desk, and looked up at his second-in-command Flt Lt, the Honourable Algernon Lacey, his lips narrowing to a thin line.

"You know, Algy, old son, I think I've about had it up to here (he indicated a vague area above his head) with Raymond and his hair-brained suicide missions. I think the time has come to depart for warmer climes, where our talents will be more appreciated and respected."

Algy, hands shoved in pockets, stared at his Commanding Officer for several seconds, before smiling cynically.

"And just how do you propose to accomplish that?"

"I'm thinking of joining the RAAF – you know, the Aussies. I believe they wouldn't say no to an extra squadron of Spitfires lending a helping hand right now."

Algy leant forward and gently placed his hand on Biggles' brow.

"No, no temperature. You must simply be stark ravers, then."

"Shut up a minute and let me talk," interrupted Biggles impatiently. "Look, things are pretty much status quo here. We've done the Battle of Britain, the desert thing, been out East, helped Gimlet King out on a few of his ticklish jobs, been back-chatted by that cute little WAAF Joan Worralson a bit too often, and things look like being much of the same till we muster up the strength to liberate Europe. Quite frankly I can't see that happening for a few more years and all the while Raymond sits in Whitehall dreaming up more and more impossible suicide missions to send us out on. And look at the weather…"

"What's the weather got to do with it? This is England and it is still February…"

"Precisely. Snow, sleet, rain, freezing cold. Can't fly without wearing half your wardrobe. Now in the northern part of Australia right now, it's summer."

"Yes, and don't they have a funny thing called a wet season at this time of the year? I seem to remember being stuck in the amphibian somewhere on their northern shores for weeks in rain that never let up for a minute."

"But it wasn't cold! Besides," continued Biggles reasonably. "I've checked with their weather bureau and they're having an unseasonable drought this year in southern Queensland. I thought of taking the boys out there. I hear the Japs are keeping the Aussies pretty busy right now. Lots of action, flying, dog-fights…"

"Hah!" sneered Algy, "It's not Raymond's infinite supply of suicide missions. It's the weather and the fact that we haven't been able to fly lately!"

"Well, it's a bit more than that," protested Biggles as he tapped a cigarette on the back of his hand. "If you'll stop your amateur psychology efforts and just listen, I'll explain."

Biggles paused to light his cigarette and lent back watching the thin stream of smoke lazily rise to the ceiling.

"I was having dinner with Ken Mortensen the other day. Remember, he was with the Aussies in France back in '18. Their AFC squadron was just down the road from 266." Algy nodded in remembrance and Biggles continued. "Well, we've kept in touch on and off over the years. He was one of the bright boys behind getting the RAAF established in '21. Was an instructor at Point Cook for a few years. He made the service his career and is a somewhat exalted Air Vice-Marshall of the RAAF these days."

"Ah-hah!" exclaimed Algy, beginning to see where the conversation was leading. "He outranks Raymond, does he?"

Biggles allowed a small smile to play across his lips.

"He does, indeed. He had an interesting proposition for me…for us, really. Of course, ultimately it would have to be okayed by our own people but the idea is that we fly out a consignment of Beauforts for the new bomber and surveillance squadrons they're starting to form right now, then stay for a while and fly Spits against the Japs up around New Guinea and the Solomons. Cheeky blighters bombed Darwin1 last week – civilian casualties all over the place, I believe. They've very kindly sent several RAAF squadrons over here and there are any number of Aussies serving in the RAF, so it wouldn't hurt to engage in a bit of reciprocity, would it?"

"And you seriously think Raymond's going to allow us to go off into the wild blue yonder just like that?"

"What Raymond doesn't know until it's too late, won't hurt him," smiled Biggles reflectively.

Algy's eyes opened wide.

"I still think you're bordering on stark ravers, but if you think you can pull it off and put one over Raymond for once, I'm all for it."

"Let's not flirt with insubordination too much," Biggles frowned. "But yes, I think I'll call a Squadron meeting and warn the boys they need to be ready to move tomorrow. No need to give them too much info."

"Tomorrow!" exclaimed Algy incredulously. "You've had this planned for a while, haven't you?"

"Since this morning," returned Biggles evenly. "And you'd better get cracking if this squadron's to be travel-worthy by 1300 hours tomorrow."

1 On 19th February, 1942, the Japanese bombed Darwin on the Australian mainland. The two raids killed at least 243 people and between 300 and 400 were wounded. Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships at anchor in the harbour were sunk, and most civil and military facilities in Darwin were destroyed. The air attacks on Darwin continued until November 1943, by which time the Japanese had bombed Darwin 64 times. During the war other towns in northern Australia were also the target of Japanese air attack, with bombs being dropped on Townsville, Katherine, Wyndham, Derby, Broome and Port Hedland.