The Bottle Party is a short story which was first published in Popular Flying in April 1933 and then in The Modern Boy issue 287, 5th August 1933 where it was given the title The Bottle Bombers!. The story was subsequently collected as the fourth short story of the third Biggles book Biggles of the Camel Squadron, published in March 1934. In the book, this story is preceded by The Bridge Party and followed by The Trap.
Synopsis[]
Colonel Raymond wants the balloons at Duneville brought down again (see The Balloonatics). The site is heavily defended, so Biggles is not particularly keen, even when Raymond mentions that he might have to turn to 287 Sqn instead. It is left to the "Professor" to come up with an innovative tactic.
Plot[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
Characters[]
- Biggles
- Algy Lacey
- Captain Mahoney
- Captain MacLaren
- Henry Watkins
- Colonel Raymond
- Wat Tyler
Aircraft[]
Places[]
Visited[]
- 266 Squadron, Maranique
- Hamel
- Duneville
Mentioned[]
- Thetford
- Narborough
Editorial Changes[]
Other Research Notes[]
- Aerial Victories: Two Fokkers collide but these can't be credited to either Biggles or Algy.
References to the past[]
Incongruities[]
Chronology[]
(see also table at Timeline of the Biggles Stories)
- April 1918.
- There are no specific indicators of timeframe in this story. It is a matter of taking dressing from The Thought Reader (which can be reliably set in June 1918). This takes place just after The Professor Comes Back and hence that is set around May 1918. That story is in turn set 6 weeks after the Professor is shot down in this story. So The Bottle Party is set in April 1918.
- The appearance of the Fokker Dr.I would be spot-on for this timeframe.
Publication History[]
- Popular Flying, Apr, 1933
- The Modern Boy, Issue 287, 5th Aug 1933 (as The Bottle Bombers!)
- Biggles of the Camel Squadron, John Hamilton, 1934 and reprints
- Biggles Goes to War, Boys' Friend Library, 1938
- Biggles of the Camel Squadron, Thames, 1954 and reprints
- Biggles of the Camel Squadron, Dean and Son, 1960s and reprints
- Biggles of the Fighter Squadron, Red Fox, 1992 and reprints
- Biggles of the Camel Squadron, Norman Wright, 2011