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Biggles learns to fly, his early days as a WW1 fighter pilot
First Published in the Boys' Friend Library Issue No. 469 - dated 7th March 1935 and republished in 1955 - 192 pages

The 1955 version contains sixteen chapters, each of which is virtually a short story on its own, although they do flow together and sometimes one carries on from the previous one. Originally published as BIGGLES LEARNS TO FLY in 1935 with 12 stories and subsequently republished in an amended form in 1955. Two of the stories in the original publication were left out of the 1955 edition as they had already been reprinted in BIGGLES OF 266 (also published in 1955) the amended 1955 version contains:-

AUTHOR'S NOTE (a short essay by W. E. Johns containing explanatory notes)

FIRST TIME UP! - Biggles is taken up by an instructor who gives him his first ever flight in an aeroplane.

LANDED - BUT LOST - Biggles' first solo flight results in him getting hopelessly lost. After 15 hours he gets his 'wings'.

THE BOAT FOR FRANCE - Sent to France to serve in 169 squadron, Biggles meets Mahoney of 266 on the boat over.

BATTLE - Biggles faces aerial combat for the first time, with his experienced gunner, Mark Way (a New Zealander - I knew there was another reason I liked Biggles).

PLOTS AND PLANS - After a week's experience, Biggles and Mark go on an important recognisance mission.

LATE FOR DINNER - Returning from the above mission, Biggles and Mark have to ditch in the sea.

A DARING STUNT - Attacking an aerodrome, Biggles is again shot down. He and Mark escape from No Man's Land.

SPECIAL MISSION - Major Raymond sends Biggles on a special mission, to deliver and collect a spy.

EYES OF THE GUNS - Biggles does artillery observation for ground guns. When they can't hit the target, he bombs it.

THE CAMERA - A Bristol Fighter replaces Biggles' F. E. aeroplane. His temporary gunner, Harris, is killed.

THE 'SHOW' - Biggles and his squadron lend major support to a large ground attack over a number of days.

DIRTY WORK - When Phosphorus flares set their plane on fire, Biggles and Mark crash again.

THE PUP'S FIRST FLIGHT - Biggles transfers to 266 squadron and flies a Sopworth Pup. He captures a German Rumpler.

CAUGHT NAPPING - Biggles plans a major attack on a German 'circus'. Seven German Triplanes are destroyed.

THE YELLOW HUN - Now equipped with Sopworth Camels, Biggles seeks to avenge his old friend, Mark Way.

THE DAWN PATROL - Biggles lands and rescues Mahoney after he is shot down.

The dust cover of the 1955 version of the book shows Biggles in the cockpit of his plane at night.

a great early Biggles adventure
Only 17, having lied about his age, young James Bigglesworth ("Biggles" to his friends) joins the Royal Flying Corp right out of school and with only a few hours of training under his belt, he's off to France to fight the Germans.He is described as physcially small, with delicate, almost feminine hands, so it's lucky for him he didn't wind up in the trenches. The RFC finds an unlikely hero in young Biggles, his aptitude surprises his superiors and he outlives the majority of RFC cadets.This book was published later, W.E. Johns looking back into Biggles' past, and the story is a fantastic blue-print for the man Biggles grows to be.This is the realization of a dream for children of all ages, defying authority to fight for your King and Country and it has a wide appeal to both young and old alike. Biggles is the embodiment of several key values, such as loyalty, duty, hard-work, and putting the needs of the team above his own. But at the same time, he's not without flaws... yet we love him for it.