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489:. From the early 1930s, Johns called for the training of more pilots, for if there were not enough when war came, "training would have to be rushed, and under-trained airmen would die in accidents or in combat against better trained German pilots." He was removed as editor at the beginning of 1939, probably as a direct result of a scathing editorial, strongly opposed to the policy of
354:, a section of the Royal Air Force that had been formed for the purpose of bombing targets deep inside Germany. Casualties in the Independent Air Force were high and Johns' career flying strategic bombing missions was characteristically short, lasting only six weeks. On 16 September 1918, he was piloting one of six
214:, England, the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a fabric tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (nÊe Earl), the daughter of a master butcher. A younger brother, Russell Ernest Johns, was born on 24 October 1895. Johns' early ambition was to be a soldier and he was a crack shot with a rifle. From January 1905, he attended
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Unusually among children's writers of the time, from 1935 Johns employed a working-class character as an equal member of the
Biggles team â "Ginger" Habblethwaite, later Hebblethwaite, the son of a Northumberland miner. However, readers never learn his real given name, and he proclaims himself a
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aeroplane), was published in August 1932 and Johns would continue to write
Biggles stories until his death in 1968. At first, the Biggles stories were credited to "William Earle", but later Johns adopted the more familiar "Capt. W. E. Johns". While his apparent final RAF rank of
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statesmen of the time. Cockburn, however, feels that the government was concerned about being so "expertly attacked" on the lack of trained pilots by the editor of the most widely read aviation magazines in the world, including readers "in the RAF or connected with flying."
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W. E. Johns was a prolific author and editor. In his 46-year writing career (1922â1968) he wrote over 160 books, including nearly one hundred
Biggles books, more than sixty other novels and factual books, and scores of magazine articles and short stories.
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in
Yorkshire. The aircraft of the time were very unreliable and he wrote off three planes in three days through engine failure â crashing into the sea, then the sand, and then through a fellow officer's back door. Later, he was caught in fog over the
446:, was published in 1922 under the pen name "William Earle". After leaving the RAF, Johns became a newspaper air correspondent, as well as editing and illustrating books about flying. At the request of John Hamilton Ltd, he created the magazine
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A 10-volume science fiction series (1954â1963) that follows the interplanetary adventures of retired RAF Group
Captain Timothy "Tiger" Clinton, his son Rex, scientist Professor Lucius Brane (who invents a spaceship powered by
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when Johns was posted there. Although he never divorced Maude Hunt, Doris Leigh was known as "Mrs Johns" until her death. Johns continued to pay for his wife and son's upkeep and for her nursing care (she suffered from acute
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It was common for officers continuing in the service after the war to take a lower rank than that held during the conflict, but it does seem highly unlikely he had ever held the rank of "captain" in the RFC (equivalent to
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Johns also wrote eight other books of juvenile fiction, twelve books of fiction for adults, and eight factual books, including several books on aviation, books on pirates and treasure hunting, and a book on gardening,
374:. Johns and Amey were taken prisoner by German troops: Johns received a leg wound during the battle and was slightly injured in the crash, but Amey died of his injuries later that day. Johns remained a
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was a fairly common accident, and it happened to Johns twice. The commanding officer at Marske was a Major
Champion, known as 'Gimlet', a name used later by Johns for the hero of a series of stories.
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when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he was forced to drop out of formation. He jettisoned his single 250-pound (110 kg) bomb and turned for home, but was attacked by a number of
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fighters. During a lengthy but one-sided battle, Johns' observer and rear-gunner, Second
Lieutenant Alfred Edward Amey, was badly wounded and the aircraft shot down. The victory was credited to
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Amey's medals were sold at auction in the United
Kingdom in 2005, in a lot that included a letter to his family from Johns, describing the circumstances of his death
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412:, again working as a recruitment officer. In Birmingham he met Doris 'Dol' May Leigh (1900â1969), daughter of Alfred Broughton Leigh. They later moved to
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During this time Johns's probationary commission was confirmed. He continued to serve as a flying instructor until August 1918, when he transferred to
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The 6-volume "Steeley" series (1936â1939), featuring former First World War pilot turned crime-fighter Deeley
Montfort Delaroy (nicknamed "Steeley").
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405:(of Arabia) as an RAF recruit for having applied as John Hume Ross and thereby giving a false name, but was later ordered to accept him.
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505:(1935) the storyline revolves around German preparations for conquest. Even more advanced in his thinking, for that time, was the story
711:(1954), on page vi, Johns wrote: "Lieutenant A. E. Amey, who fought his first and last fight beside me, had not even unpacked his kit!"
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and narrowly escaped flying into a cliff. Shooting one's own propeller off with a forward-mounted machine-gun with malfunctioning
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at the age of 47. On 6 October 1914, Johns married Maude
Penelope Hunt (1882â1961), the daughter of the Rev. John Hunt, vicar of
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On 15 October 1927, he was transferred to the reserves. Four years later, on 15 October 1931, he relinquished his commission.
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Joan "Worrals" Worralson (who was also the subject of three short stories); these were created at the request of the
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W. E. Johns died on 21 June 1968, aged 75. Shortly before he died he was writing the final Biggles story, entitled
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was equivalent to an army (or RFC) lieutenant, captain is commonly used for the commander of a vessel or aircraft.
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By 1923, Johns had left his wife. His RAF commission had been extended a further four years and he had moved to
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509:(1937) which alludes to Japanese preparations for conquest of British colonies in the Far East.
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Johns was not a natural scholar. He included some of his experiences at this school in his book
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on 23 November 1920. Johns worked in central London as a recruiting officer and rejected
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1241:"How boys' own hero Biggles helped train the RAF pilots who won the Battle of Britain"
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Johns' opposition to appeasement is reflected in some of his books. For example, in
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The 10-volume "Gimlet" series (1943â1954), whose hero is the dashing British
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Johns undertook his initial flying training at the short-lived airfield at
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Shorthorn aircraft. He was then posted to No.25 Flying Training School at
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Patrick Cockburn, "Biggles flies uncensored: more whisky, less jingoism."
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magazine in the late 1930s as well as editing (and writing for) both
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in Norfolk, closer to where his wife Maude and son Jack were living.
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wejas.org.uk, Website celebrating W. E. Johns â the man and his work
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for four years and in 1912 was appointed as a sanitary inspector in
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Apart from "Biggles", his other multi-volume fiction series were:
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174:(5 February 1893 – 21 June 1968) was an English
257:, and working as a sanitary inspector, Johns enlisted in the
181:, and writer of adventure stories, usually written under the
523:" series (1941â1950), detailing the exploits of plucky WAAF
218:. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
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which first appeared in March 1932. It was in the pages of
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672:, a biography of Johns, was published in 1981, written by
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On 1 April 1918, Johns was appointed flying instructor at
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Biggles Forum: Capt W. E. Johns reference and community
1072:, Sunday 17 November 2013 Retrieved 23 November 2013.
1004:. Jefferson : McFarland & Co. p. 55.
960:"A Brief Biography of Captain W. E. Johns Part Two"
791:"A Brief Biography of Captain W. E. Johns Part One"
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1149:Science Fiction books written by Captain W E Johns
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296:. After recovering, he was commissioned into the
630:on the building, he lived in "Thatched Cottage",
304:and posted back to England for flight training.
276:. The Norfolk Yeomanry fought (as infantry) at
237:in Norfolk. Soon afterwards, his father died of
1001:T.E. Lawrence : biography of a broken hero
284:. In September 1916, Johns transferred to the
1231:on the Collecting Books and Magazines website
1138:The Gimlet books written by Captain W E Johns
734:Mossy Face was a name given by the Allies to
8:
1311:World War I prisoners of war held by Germany
836:"The Coley Park Aerodrome and CWS Jam Works"
678:Biggles! The Life Story of Capt. W. E. Johns
267:King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry)
1184:"Biggles does some homework â plot summary"
1083:"Popular Flying Magazine â Issue 1 (of 88)"
763:"Popular Flying Magazine â Issue 1 (of 88)"
280:until December when they were withdrawn to
1321:People educated at Hertford Grammar School
1127:Worrals books written by Captain W E Johns
886:Aces Falling: War Above The Trenches, 1918
676:and Piers Williams. It was republished as
553:) and Brane's resourceful butler Judkins.
389:, apparently with the substantive rank of
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165:William Earl Carmichael Johns (1916â1954)
1301:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
842:. Coley Park & Beyond (Kevin Rosier)
473:Johns was also a regular contributor to
1212:Website covering all W. E. Johns' books
986:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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725:in the RAF), even on an "acting" basis.
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300:(RFC) in September 1917 as a temporary
249:Military career and the First World War
1116:The Steeley Books by Captain W E Johns
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225:(1951). In the summer of 1907, he was
92:London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
1341:Military personnel from Hertfordshire
1276:British Army personnel of World War I
738:Wood: it is mentioned in some of the
385:After the war, Johns remained in the
30:For the American operatic tenor, see
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1281:British World War I prisoners of war
531:to inspire young women to join the
292:in Greece he was hospitalised with
943:. 30 November 1920. p. 11823.
870:. 6 September 1918. p. 10551.
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1054:. 22 December 1931. p. 8260.
824:. 19 October 1917. p. 10886.
1034:. 11 October 1927. p. 6402.
592:The Quest for the Perfect Planet
543:Captain Lorrington "Gimlet" King
1346:Military personnel from Norfolk
1217:The Biggles Information website
661:Crematorium, Bonner Hill Road.
602:The Man Who Vanished Into Space
493:and highly critical of several
393:. His promotion to the rank of
188:: best known for creating the
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454:that Biggles first appeared.
380:Armistice of 11 November 1918
149:Maude Penelope Hunt (m. 1914)
705:(see: Bosleys 2005, Lot 556)
657:Johns' body was cremated at
626:According to the unofficial
618:Yorkshireman once or twice.
434:List of works by W. E. Johns
1306:Royal Flying Corps officers
709:Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter
533:Women's Auxiliary Air Force
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1351:Territorial Force soldiers
1336:English children's writers
1291:Machine Gun Corps soldiers
1182:Harris, R (26 July 2006).
680:(Veloce Publishing, 1993,
652:Biggles does some Homework
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350:, at the time part of the
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1286:Norfolk Yeomanry soldiers
582:The Death Rays of Ardilla
253:In 1913, while living in
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1296:Royal Air Force officers
888:. W&N. p. 278.
457:The first Biggles book,
1229:W. E. Johns and Biggles
1163:. The Twickenham Museum
998:Orlans, Harold (2002).
910:"Bosleys 2005, Lot 556"
288:. While serving on the
216:Hertford Grammar School
110:Aviator, author, editor
1331:English male novelists
674:Peter Berresford Ellis
229:to a county municipal
223:Biggles Goes to School
1161:"Captain W. E. Johns"
507:Biggles Air Commodore
459:The Camels are Coming
358:on their way to bomb
352:Independent Air Force
1316:People from Hertford
1246:Works by W. E. Johns
983:Biography of Johns,
884:Hart, Peter (2007).
707:. In the preface of
659:Kingston-upon-Thames
461:(a reference to the
414:Newcastle upon Tyne
370:, the commander of
348:No. 55 Squadron RAF
102:Captain W. E. Johns
1326:Shot-down aviators
1051:The London Gazette
1031:The London Gazette
940:The London Gazette
867:The London Gazette
821:The London Gazette
577:The Edge of Beyond
298:Royal Flying Corps
206:Johns was born in
172:William Earl Johns
43:William Earl Johns
1087:Popularflying.com
1011:978-0-7864-1307-2
767:Popularflying.com
723:flight lieutenant
670:By Jove, Biggles!
632:Lingfield, Surrey
587:To Worlds Unknown
442:His first novel,
302:second lieutenant
286:Machine Gun Corps
186:Capt. W. E. Johns
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127:Adventure fiction
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581:
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529:Air Ministry
511:
506:
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495:Conservative
484:
480:
474:
472:
458:
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451:
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443:
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423:
407:
384:
368:Georg Weiner
364:Fokker D.VII
345:
325:
317:Farman MF.11
306:
272:
252:
239:tuberculosis
222:
220:
205:
193:
185:
171:
170:
87:(1968-06-21)
85:21 June 1968
36:
1271:1968 deaths
1266:1893 births
1167:20 December
1092:19 November
1046:"No. 33782"
1026:"No. 33319"
964:Wejohns.com
935:"No. 32145"
862:"No. 30887"
846:15 February
816:"No. 30347"
795:Wejohns.com
772:19 November
736:Havrincourt
628:blue plaque
551:cosmic rays
491:appeasement
227:apprenticed
131:war fiction
1260:Categories
1250:Faded Page
1193:3 February
969:17 October
919:16 October
800:17 October
749:References
686:187410526X
432:See also:
410:Birmingham
337:Hartlepool
309:Coley Park
202:Early life
107:Occupation
64:1893-02-05
665:Biography
640:Middlesex
444:Mossyface
419:arthritis
335:, missed
278:Gallipoli
190:fictional
18:W E Johns
1252:(Canada)
540:commando
399:gazetted
360:Mannheim
321:Thetford
255:Swaffham
235:Swaffham
231:surveyor
212:Hertford
183:pen name
162:Children
141:Aviation
99:Pen name
75:Hertford
740:Biggles
521:Worrals
428:Writing
313:Reading
294:malaria
273:Olympic
265:in the
263:trooper
195:Biggles
154:Partner
138:Subject
118:1922â68
1008:
892:
684:
486:Flying
208:Bengeo
146:Spouse
115:Period
71:Bengeo
692:Notes
646:Death
356:DH.4s
282:Egypt
261:as a
179:pilot
123:Genre
1195:2010
1169:2020
1094:2016
1006:ISBN
971:2012
921:2012
890:ISBN
848:2008
802:2012
774:2016
682:ISBN
483:and
397:was
333:Tees
271:RMS
82:Died
58:Born
1248:at
688:).
638:in
421:).
311:in
1262::
1186:.
1085:.
1048:.
1028:.
962:.
949:^
937:.
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876:^
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66:)
62:(
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20:)
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