WINGED JUSTICE
AND OTHER UNCOLLECTED STORIES
First published in paperback by Norman Wright
in 2001 - 187 pages
INTRODUCTION (a
short passage about W. E. Johns as a short story writer by Norman Wright)
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORIES (a guide to where the 15 stories were originally published)
FORTUNE OF WAR
This is the true story of what
happened to W. E. Johns the night before he was shot down in France on
16th September 1918 and how he met a beautiful French girl called Marcelle.
Marcelle was to become the inspiration for the character of Marie Janis, the
love of Biggles' life in the Biggles stories.
This story was originally published in “The National Graphic” on 14th
July 1932 (issue number 3265) and was then later republished in “Popular
Flying” in October 1936
A FLYING START
Mary and Rex Laken go on a flying
honeymoon and argue on the way. As a result, Mary goes out and attempts to
climb the Seshalhorn Mountain on her own. When Mary gets into difficulties on a
narrow ledge, Rex has to use their aeroplane to save her.
This story was originally published in “Popular Flying” in November 1932
COFFEE FOR TWO
Almer Waine joins a gentleman's
club and gets chatting to a man about indiscretion and divorce. The man tells
Almer his views about the best way to conduct a secret affair. When the man's
lover drives past and signals to him, Almer Waine informs the man that the
woman concerned is his wife.
This story was originally published in the “Daily Express” on 4th
January 1934
ENCOUNTER
This story, written in the first
person, concerns a man who has broken down in a remote area south of Grenoble.
Going to a lonely house, he meets a man called Edward Frayle. Frayle tells our
hero the story of a certain Lady Morella Wyntersen and the fate of her previous
husbands. The story is of particular interest to our hero.
This story was originally published in the “Daily Express” on 17th
February 1934 – Click here to see part of that original publication
This story was later rewritten by W. E. Johns and published in 'Short Sorties' in
1950 as 'Intercepted' with a flying angle added.
WHEN THREE HAD FAILED
Ellison Westerley has sent three
agents on a secret mission and all have failed to return. Roger Livvock, who
was the father of the last agent to go, is an old friend and colleague of
Westerley's and he asks for a chance to go on the mission. This he does but I
have to confess that I don't understand the enigmatic ending of the story! If
anybody does, please e-mail me and explain it!
This story was originally published in the “Pearson’s Weekly” on 5th
January 1935
THE STORY TELLER
An American
sits in the clubroom of a flying club and tells the story of his
escapades with his old friend, Dick Sylvester, known as 'Pug'. The story is one
of impossible and unbelievable heroics. What the American doesn't know, is who
is in his audience.
This story was originally published in the “The New Book of the Air” in
1935. It was later republished in “Air Stories” in November
1936 as “The
Story-Teller”
WINGED JUSTICE
Dick Wilde Junior makes his way
through the Australian backwoods and comes across an aeroplane that has landed
and been hidden in the forest. Dick takes the opportunity of sheltering in the
cabin of the plane and he is awoken the following morning by the sound of
conversation. Dick is astonished to hear two people discussing how they
murdered an old man who has struck gold in the locality. Dick puts sugar in
their petrol tank to ensure the men are unable to fly away from justice. When
the men do take off, their plane is forced to land and it is easy for the
police to arrest them. Dick has a particular interest in bringing the men to
justice. The man they murdered was his father.
This story was originally published in the “The New Book of the Air” in 1935
QUESTIONABLE CARGO
In the pilots' room of an
airport, after hours, the pilots exchange stories. The narrator tells the story
of the time his was asked to bring some strange freight into the country and
not land at a customs airport. His passenger had been attacked by a leopard in Africa
and wanted to bring back the dogs that had saved his life. When the narrator
has finished his tale he has a big surprise coming.
This story was originally published in the “The New Book of the Air” in
1935. It was later republished in “Air Stories” in September
1936 as “Customary
Cargo”
THE COWARD
This is a true story from when W.
E. Johns was a First World War bomber pilot. When his usual gunner is out of
action, Johns has to take a raw recruit up, who shows a distinct lack of moral
fibre. Johns gives the lad a chance to redeem himself but the lad fails.
However, the tale has an unexpected and astonishing end that proves that the
truth really can be stranger than fiction.
This story was originally published in “Popular Flying” in November 1936
WORRALS TAKES A HAND
Worrals investigates the
disappearance of her friend Frecks. Worrals flies to Najula in East Africa and
meets a man named Batson from Equatorial Airways. Frecks had previously flown
out in her own plane to work for the company as they were advertising for
pilots with their own planes. Batson has lost four pilots in three months
shipping gold for the Nova Mining Corporation at Situri. Worrals agrees to fly
for the company and flies out to Situri. Meeting a man called Lane, he insists
on flying back with Worrals and two of his companions. One of them, Tyson,
pulls a gun on Worrals in mid-air and forces her to land in the Maratovo Reserve.
This is a diamond-bearing region owned by the Government, where nobody is
allowed. Landing, Worrals finds that a local native, called Sam, is holding
Frecks and two of the other pilots prisoner. Worrals
puts water in the fuel tank of her plane to stop the villains escaping because
Tyson is actually a pilot, even though he has a drink problem. Lane is going to
shoot Worrals but a detachment of the African Rifles arrives and arrests the
bad guys. Worrals had made arrangements in advance, before agreeing to fly for
the company, and had arranged a signalling system to give her position.
This story was originally published in “The Children’s Gift Book” in 1946
A MATTER OF OBSERVATION
Cedric Lockwood and his sister
Mary like to do a spot of bird watching on the remote Norfolk foreshore. They
are suspicious of the regular landing of an aircraft by a remote abandoned
windmill. Informing the local police, they are able to break a perfume
smuggling racket.
This story was originally published in “The Children’s Wonder Book in Colour”
in 1947
WORRALS WORKS IT OUT
Worrals is asked by Air Commodore
Raymond to investigate the finding of a valuable diamond in a bird's nest. It
was found by a schoolgirl called Alice Bates who takes Worrals and Frecks to
the relevant location. Finding a miniature home made parachute in a tree,
Worrals guesses that jewels have been dropped from an aircraft to evade
customs. Two men arrive and commence a search, obviously looking for the
jewels. It is a simple matter to have them arrested. This story was rewritten by W. E. Johns and
published in 'Stirring Stories for
Girls' in 1960 as 'Pearls
and Primroses' with the
two lead characters becoming police officer Margaret Robertson and her
assistant Jill Peters - see the last story in this collection. Biggles fans
will also recognise the same story, rewritten again and published in 'Biggles Flies to Work' in 1963
as 'The Case of the
Early Boy'.
This story was originally published in the “Girl’s Own Paper” in September 1947
THE DINGO TRAIL
Alexander MacKail and his
Aboriginal friend, Joe are out hunting dingoes when they find a dingo that has been
killed by a strange piece of metal which has fallen off an aircraft. Their
enquiries lead them to a company called Warcraft Disposals. This company is
smuggling the metal by concealing it in the struts of aircraft. Alexander
suspects the lead like metal is in fact, painted gold, but the truth is
something much more sinister.
This story was originally published in “The Children’s Wonder Book in Colour
No. 2” in 1948
THE BADGE
Havaldar Tulsi Ram is a Hindu who
once served in the British Army, in the Shikaris. When he is captured by
Pakistan troops and threatened with execution, he has cause to be grateful to
the fact that he always carries his old Army badge with him and the fact that
Muslim soldiers also served in the Shikaris.
This story was originally published in “The Strand”
in January 1950
PEARLS AND PRIMROSES
Police Officer Margaret Robertson
and her assistant, Policewoman Jill Peters, go to investigate the story of a
young girl called Prudence Grey. Prudence has been chased by a man in a local
wood after finding a string of pearls. Investigating in the wood, a small home made parachute is found, as well as other jewellery
that has been dropped from a plane. Prudence spots the man who chased her. He
is present with another man and they are searching for something. After being
shown the parachute and accepting they are looking for it, the men are arrested.
As set out above, although
this story was published in 'Stirring Stories for Girls' as 1960 as 'Pearls and Primroses', the original version was 'Worrals Works it Out' published in the Children's Gift Book in
1946. Biggles fans will also recognise the same story, rewritten again and
published in 'Biggles Flies to
Work' in 1963 as 'The
Case of the Early Boy'.
This story was originally published in “Stirring Stories for Girls” in
1960
Winged Justice and other uncollected Stories
Subtitle - none
Publication Details - originally published by Norman Wright
First Edition