The Bridge Party is a short story which was first published in Popular Flying in March 1933 and then in The Modern Boy issue 286, 29th July 1933 where it was given the title The Bridge They Couldn't Blow Up. The story was subsequently collected as the third 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 Joy Ride and followed by The Bottle Party.
Synopsis[]
Nobody in 266 Sqn has succeeded in destroying an important bridge which Headquarters wants blown up. Needless to say, Henry, the Professor, has a plan. It works, but with some unexpected consequences.
Plot[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
Characters[]
- Biggles
- Algy Lacey
- Captain Mahoney
- Captain MacLaren
- Henry Watkins
- Davis
Aircraft[]
- Sopwith Camel
- D.H.9
- Pfalz - by this time, this would probably have been a Pfalz D.III
- Fokkers - type not specified, but given the timeframe, they would be Fokker Dr.Is.
Places[]
Visited[]
- 266 Squadron, Maranique
- Bridge on the Lille Road
Editorial Changes[]
Other Research Notes[]
- Aerial Victories: Biggles and Algy shared 1 (Pfalz).
References to the past[]
Incongruities[]
Chronology[]
(see also table at Timeline of the Biggles Stories)
- Estimated as January 1917
- It is still winter like in the previous two stories in the anthology. Biggles twice kicks the ante-room fire into a blaze.[1]
Publication History[]
- Popular Flying, Mar, 1933
- The Modern Boy, Issue 286, 29nd Jul 1933 (as The Bridge They Couldn't Blow Up)
- 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
References[]
- ↑ Ward Powers. "What Happened to Biggles in WW1?" Biggles Flies Again Vol. 3 No. 1, June 2009.