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class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Military career and the First World War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Military_career_and_the_First_World_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Writing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Writing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Writing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Writing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Personal_life" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Personal_life"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Personal life</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Personal_life-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Death" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" 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class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" 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E. Johns</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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Johns – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="W.E. Johns" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.E._Johns" title="W.E. Johns – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="W.E. Johns" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.E._Johns" title="W.E. Johns – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="W.E. Johns" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1867018#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/W._E._Johns" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a 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data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the American operatic tenor, see <a href="/wiki/William_Johns" title="William Johns">William Johns</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size:125%;"><div style="display:inline;" class="fn">William Earl Johns</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Biggles,_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg/220px-Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg/330px-Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg/440px-Biggles%2C_Hertford_blue_plaque.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1773" data-file-height="1773" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Born</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1893-02-05</span>)</span>5 February 1893<br /><a href="/wiki/Bengeo" title="Bengeo">Bengeo</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hertford" title="Hertford">Hertford</a>, United Kingdom</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Died</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">21 June 1968<span style="display:none">(1968-06-21)</span> (aged 75)<br /><a href="/wiki/London_Borough_of_Richmond_upon_Thames" title="London Borough of Richmond upon Thames">London Borough of Richmond upon Thames</a>, United Kingdom</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Pen name</th><td class="infobox-data nickname" style="line-height:1.4em;">Captain W. E. Johns</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Occupation</th><td class="infobox-data role" style="line-height:1.4em;">Aviator, author, editor</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Period</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">1922–68</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Genre</th><td class="infobox-data category" style="line-height:1.4em;"><a href="/wiki/Adventure_fiction" title="Adventure fiction">Adventure fiction</a>, <a href="/wiki/War_fiction" class="mw-redirect" title="War fiction">war fiction</a>, science fiction</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Subject</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">Aviation</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Spouse</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">Maude Penelope Hunt (m. 1914)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Partner</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">Doris May Leigh</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.2em; padding-right:0.65em;">Children</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.4em;">William Earl Carmichael Johns (1916–1954)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>William Earl Johns</b> (5 February 1893 – 21 June 1968) was an English <a href="/wiki/First_World_War" class="mw-redirect" title="First World War">First World War</a> <a href="/wiki/Pilot" class="mw-redirect" title="Pilot">pilot</a>, and writer of adventure stories, usually written under the <a href="/wiki/Pen_name" title="Pen name">pen name</a> <b>Capt. W. E. Johns</b>: best known for creating the <a href="/wiki/Fictional" class="mw-redirect" title="Fictional">fictional</a> air-adventurer <i><a href="/wiki/Biggles" title="Biggles">Biggles</a></i>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_life">Early life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Johns was born in <a href="/wiki/Bengeo" title="Bengeo">Bengeo</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hertford" title="Hertford">Hertford</a>, England, the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a fabric tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (née 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.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (May 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> From January 1905, he attended <a href="/wiki/Richard_Hale_School" title="Richard Hale School">Hertford Grammar School</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-johns_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-johns-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He also attended evening classes at the local art school. </p><p>Johns was not a natural scholar. He included some of his experiences at this school in his book <i>Biggles Goes to School</i> (1951). In the summer of 1907, he was <a href="/wiki/Apprenticeship" title="Apprenticeship">apprenticed</a> to a county municipal <a href="/wiki/Surveying" title="Surveying">surveyor</a> for four years and in 1912 was appointed as a sanitary inspector in <a href="/wiki/Swaffham" title="Swaffham">Swaffham</a> in Norfolk. Soon afterwards, his father died of <a href="/wiki/Tuberculosis" title="Tuberculosis">tuberculosis</a> at the age of 47. On 6 October 1914, Johns married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Rev. John Hunt, vicar of <a href="/wiki/Little_Dunham" title="Little Dunham">Little Dunham</a>, Norfolk.<sup id="cite_ref-johns_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-johns-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Their only son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, was born in March 1916. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Military_career_and_the_First_World_War">Military career and the First World War</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Military career and the First World War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1913, while living in <a href="/wiki/Swaffham" title="Swaffham">Swaffham</a>, and working as a sanitary inspector, Johns enlisted in the <a href="/wiki/Territorial_Army_(United_Kingdom)" class="mw-redirect" title="Territorial Army (United Kingdom)">Territorial Army</a> as a <a href="/wiki/Trooper_(rank)" title="Trooper (rank)">trooper</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Norfolk_Yeomanry" title="Norfolk Yeomanry">King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry)</a>. The regiment was mobilised in August 1914, and was sent overseas in September 1915, embarking on <a href="/wiki/RMS_Olympic" title="RMS Olympic">RMS <i>Olympic</i></a>. The Norfolk Yeomanry fought (as infantry) at <a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Gallipoli" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Gallipoli">Gallipoli</a> until December when they were withdrawn to <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a>. In September 1916, Johns transferred to the <a href="/wiki/Machine_Gun_Corps" title="Machine Gun Corps">Machine Gun Corps</a>. While serving on the <a href="/wiki/Macedonian_front_(World_War_I)" class="mw-redirect" title="Macedonian front (World War I)">Macedonian front</a> in Greece he was hospitalised with <a href="/wiki/Malaria" title="Malaria">malaria</a>. After recovering, he was commissioned into the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corps" title="Royal Flying Corps">Royal Flying Corps</a> (RFC) in September 1917 as a temporary <a href="/wiki/Second_lieutenant" title="Second lieutenant">second lieutenant</a><sup id="cite_ref-LG_19_October_1917_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LG_19_October_1917-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and posted back to England for flight training. </p><p>Johns undertook his initial flying training at the short-lived airfield at <a href="/wiki/Coley_Park" title="Coley Park">Coley Park</a> in <a href="/wiki/Reading,_Berkshire" title="Reading, Berkshire">Reading</a>, flying the <a href="/wiki/Farman_MF.11" title="Farman MF.11">Farman MF.11</a> Shorthorn aircraft. He was then posted to No.25 Flying Training School at <a href="/wiki/Thetford" title="Thetford">Thetford</a> in Norfolk, closer to where his wife Maude and son Jack were living.<sup id="cite_ref-cpabac_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cpabac-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On 1 April 1918, Johns was appointed flying instructor at <a href="/wiki/Marske_Aerodrome" title="Marske Aerodrome">Marske Aerodrome</a> in Yorkshire. The aircraft of the time were very unreliable and he wrote off three planes in three days through engine failure – crashing into the sea, then the sand, and then through a fellow officer's back door. Later, he was caught in fog over the <a href="/wiki/River_Tees" title="River Tees">Tees</a>, missed <a href="/wiki/Hartlepool" title="Hartlepool">Hartlepool</a> and narrowly escaped flying into a cliff. Shooting one's own propeller off with a forward-mounted machine-gun with malfunctioning <a href="/wiki/Synchronization_gear" title="Synchronization gear">synchronisation</a> 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. </p><p>During this time Johns's probationary commission was confirmed.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He continued to serve as a flying instructor until August 1918, when he transferred to <a href="/wiki/No._55_Squadron_RAF" title="No. 55 Squadron RAF">No. 55 Squadron RAF</a>, at the time part of the <a href="/wiki/Independent_Air_Force" title="Independent Air Force">Independent Air Force</a>, 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 <a href="/wiki/Airco_DH.4" title="Airco DH.4">DH.4s</a> on their way to bomb <a href="/wiki/Mannheim" title="Mannheim">Mannheim</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Fokker_D.VII" title="Fokker D.VII">Fokker D.VII</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Georg_Weiner" title="Georg Weiner">Georg Weiner</a>, the commander of <a href="/wiki/Jagdstaffel_3" title="Jagdstaffel 3">Jagdstaffel 3</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Hart_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hart-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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.<sup id="cite_ref-Hart_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hart-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-auction_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auction-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>Note 1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Johns remained a <a href="/wiki/Prisoner_of_war" title="Prisoner of war">prisoner of war</a> until after the <a href="/wiki/Armistice_of_11_November_1918" title="Armistice of 11 November 1918">Armistice of 11 November 1918</a>. </p><p>After the war, Johns remained in the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a>, apparently with the substantive rank of <a href="/wiki/Pilot_officer" title="Pilot officer">pilot officer</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>Note 2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His promotion to the rank of <a href="/wiki/Flying_officer" title="Flying officer">flying officer</a> was <a href="/wiki/Gazetted" class="mw-redirect" title="Gazetted">gazetted</a> on 23 November 1920.<sup id="cite_ref-LG_30_November_1920_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LG_30_November_1920-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Johns worked in central London as a recruiting officer<sup id="cite_ref-johns2_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-johns2-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and rejected <a href="/wiki/T._E._Lawrence" title="T. E. Lawrence">T. E. Lawrence</a> (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.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>By 1923, Johns had left his wife. His RAF commission had been extended a further four years and he had moved to <a href="/wiki/Birmingham" title="Birmingham">Birmingham</a>, again working as a recruitment officer. In Birmingham he met Doris 'Dol' May Leigh<sup id="cite_ref-johns2_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-johns2-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (1900–1969), daughter of Alfred Broughton Leigh. They later moved to <a href="/wiki/Newcastle_upon_Tyne" title="Newcastle upon Tyne">Newcastle upon Tyne</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Arthritis" title="Arthritis">arthritis</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-johns2_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-johns2-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On 15 October 1927, he was transferred to the reserves.<sup id="cite_ref-LG_11_October_1927_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LG_11_October_1927-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Four years later, on 15 October 1931, he relinquished his commission.<sup id="cite_ref-LG_22_December_1931_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LG_22_December_1931-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Writing">Writing</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Writing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/List_of_works_by_W._E._Johns" title="List of works by W. E. Johns">List of works by W. E. Johns</a></div> <p>W. E. Johns was a prolific author and editor. In his 46-year writing career (1922–1968) 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. </p><p>His first novel, <i>Mossyface</i>,<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>Note 3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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 <i>Popular Flying</i> which first appeared in March 1932. It was in the pages of <i>Popular Flying</i> that Biggles first appeared. </p><p>The first Biggles book, <i>The Camels are Coming</i> (a reference to the <a href="/wiki/Sopwith_Camel" title="Sopwith Camel">Sopwith Camel</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Flying_officer" title="Flying officer">flying officer</a> was equivalent to an army (or RFC) lieutenant, captain is commonly used for the commander of a vessel or aircraft. </p><p>Johns was also a regular contributor to <i><a href="/wiki/The_Modern_Boy" title="The Modern Boy">The Modern Boy</a></i> magazine in the late 1930s as well as editing (and writing for) both <i>Popular Flying</i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Flying_(magazine)" title="Flying (magazine)">Flying</a></i>. 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."<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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 <a href="/wiki/Appeasement_of_Hitler" class="mw-redirect" title="Appeasement of Hitler">appeasement</a> and highly critical of several <a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)#1920–1945" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> statesmen of the time.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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."<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Johns' opposition to appeasement is reflected in some of his books. For example, in <i>The Black Peril</i> (1935) the storyline revolves around German preparations for conquest. Even more advanced in his thinking, for that time, was the story <i>Biggles Air Commodore</i> (1937) which alludes to Japanese preparations for conquest of British colonies in the Far East. </p><p>Apart from "Biggles", his other multi-volume fiction series were: </p> <ul><li>The 6-volume "Steeley" series (1936–1939), featuring former First World War pilot turned crime-fighter Deeley Montfort Delaroy (nicknamed "Steeley").<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The 11-volume "<a href="/wiki/Worrals" title="Worrals">Worrals</a>" series (1941–1950), detailing the exploits of plucky WAAF <a href="/wiki/Flight_Officer" class="mw-redirect" title="Flight Officer">Flight Officer</a> Joan "Worrals" Worralson (who was also the subject of three short stories); these were created at the request of the <a href="/wiki/Air_Ministry" title="Air Ministry">Air Ministry</a> to inspire young women to join the <a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Auxiliary_Air_Force" title="Women's Auxiliary Air Force">Women's Auxiliary Air Force</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The 10-volume "Gimlet" series (1943–1954), whose hero is the dashing British <a href="/wiki/Commando" title="Commando">commando</a> <a href="/wiki/Captain_Lorrington_%22Gimlet%22_King" title="Captain Lorrington "Gimlet" King">Captain Lorrington "Gimlet" King</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>A 10-volume science fiction series (1954–1963) 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 <a href="/wiki/Cosmic_rays" class="mw-redirect" title="Cosmic rays">cosmic rays</a>) and Brane's resourceful butler Judkins.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <ul><li><i>Kings of Space</i></li> <li><i>Return to Mars</i></li> <li><i>Now To The Stars</i></li> <li><i>To Outer Space</i></li> <li><i>The Edge of Beyond</i></li> <li><i>The Death Rays of Ardilla</i></li> <li><i>To Worlds Unknown</i></li> <li><i>The Quest for the Perfect Planet</i></li> <li><i>Worlds of Wonder</i></li> <li><i>The Man Who Vanished Into Space</i></li></ul></li></ul> <p>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, <i>The Passing Show</i>. </p><p>Unusually among children's writers of the time, from 1935 Johns employed a working-class character as an equal member of the Biggles team – "Ginger" Habblethwaite, later Hebblethwaite, the son of a Northumberland miner. However, readers never learn his real given name, and he proclaims himself a Yorkshireman once or twice. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Personal_life">Personal life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Personal life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>According to the unofficial <a href="/wiki/Blue_plaque" title="Blue plaque">blue plaque</a> on the building, he lived in "Thatched Cottage", <a href="/wiki/Lingfield,_Surrey" title="Lingfield, Surrey">Lingfield, Surrey</a>, from 1927 to 1937. From 1953 until his death in 1968, Johns lived at Park House, Hampton Court Road, near <a href="/wiki/Hampton_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="Hampton Court">Hampton Court</a> in <a href="/wiki/Middlesex" title="Middlesex">Middlesex</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Death">Death</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Death"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>W. E. Johns died on 21 June 1968, aged 75. Shortly before he died he was writing the final Biggles story, entitled <i>Biggles does some Homework</i>, which shows Biggles at last preparing to retire, and meeting his replacement. The twelve chapters written were issued privately in 1997.<sup id="cite_ref-Homework_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Homework-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Johns' body was cremated at <a href="/wiki/Kingston-upon-Thames" class="mw-redirect" title="Kingston-upon-Thames">Kingston-upon-Thames</a> Crematorium, Bonner Hill Road. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Biography">Biography</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Biography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>By Jove, Biggles!</i>, a biography of Johns, was published in 1981, written by <a href="/wiki/Peter_Berresford_Ellis" title="Peter Berresford Ellis">Peter Berresford Ellis</a> and Piers Williams. It was republished as <i>Biggles! The Life Story of Capt. W. E. Johns</i> (Veloce Publishing, 1993, <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/187410526X" title="Special:BookSources/187410526X">187410526X</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 60em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">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 <i>(see: Bosleys 2005, Lot 556)</i>. In the preface of <i>Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter</i> (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!"</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">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 <a href="/wiki/Flight_lieutenant" title="Flight lieutenant">flight lieutenant</a> in the RAF), even on an "acting" basis.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Mossy Face was a name given by the Allies to <a href="/wiki/Havrincourt" title="Havrincourt">Havrincourt</a> Wood: it is mentioned in some of the <i>Biggles</i> stories and in some pilot's memoirs of the period.</span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.popularflying.com/Covers/19/">"Popular Flying Magazine – Issue 1 (of 88)"</a>. <i>Popularflying.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Popularflying.com&rft.atitle=Popular+Flying+Magazine+%E2%80%93+Issue+1+%28of+88%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularflying.com%2FCovers%2F19%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-johns-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-johns_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-johns_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejohns.com/Biography/Biography1/">"A Brief Biography of Captain W. E. Johns Part One"</a>. <i>Wejohns.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 October</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wejohns.com&rft.atitle=A+Brief+Biography+of+Captain+W.+E.+Johns+Part+One&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wejohns.com%2FBiography%2FBiography1%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-LG_19_October_1917-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LG_19_October_1917_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGazette30347" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30347/page/10886">"No. 30347"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i>. 19 October 1917. p. 10886.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+30347&rft.pages=10886&rft.date=1917-10-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F30347%2Fpage%2F10886&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-cpabac-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-cpabac_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.users.on.net/~kevros/coleypark/oc_aerocws.htm">"The Coley Park Aerodrome and CWS Jam Works"</a>. <i>Users.on.net</i>. Coley Park & Beyond (Kevin Rosier)<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 February</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Users.on.net&rft.atitle=The+Coley+Park+Aerodrome+and+CWS+Jam+Works&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.users.on.net%2F~kevros%2Fcoleypark%2Foc_aerocws.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGazette30887" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30887/page/10551">"No. 30887"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i>. 6 September 1918. p. 10551.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+30887&rft.pages=10551&rft.date=1918-09-06&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F30887%2Fpage%2F10551&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Hart-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Hart_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Hart_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHart,_Peter2007" class="citation book cs1">Hart, Peter (2007). <i>Aces Falling: War Above The Trenches, 1918</i>. W&N. p. 278. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0297846536" title="Special:BookSources/978-0297846536"><bdi>978-0297846536</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Aces+Falling%3A+War+Above+The+Trenches%2C+1918&rft.pages=278&rft.pub=W%26N&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-0297846536&rft.au=Hart%2C+Peter&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-auction-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-auction_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/medals-royal-flying-corps-biggles-observer-s-casu-1-c-h46sfkylnv">"Bosleys 2005, Lot 556"</a>. <i>Invaluable.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 October</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Invaluable.com&rft.atitle=Bosleys+2005%2C+Lot+556&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.invaluable.com%2Fauction-lot%2Fmedals-royal-flying-corps-biggles-observer-s-casu-1-c-h46sfkylnv&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-LG_30_November_1920-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LG_30_November_1920_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGazette32145" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32145/page/11823">"No. 32145"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i>. 30 November 1920. p. 11823.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+32145&rft.pages=11823&rft.date=1920-11-30&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F32145%2Fpage%2F11823&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-johns2-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-johns2_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-johns2_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-johns2_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejohns.com/Biography/Biography2/">"A Brief Biography of Captain W. E. Johns Part Two"</a>. <i>Wejohns.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 October</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wejohns.com&rft.atitle=A+Brief+Biography+of+Captain+W.+E.+Johns+Part+Two&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wejohns.com%2FBiography%2FBiography2%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Biography of Johns, <i><a href="/wiki/Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" class="mw-redirect" title="Oxford Dictionary of National Biography">Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOrlans2002" class="citation book cs1">Orlans, Harold (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://archive.org/details/telawrencebiogra0000orla/page/54"><i>T.E. Lawrence : biography of a broken hero</i></a>. Jefferson : McFarland & Co. p. 55. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-1307-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-1307-2"><bdi>978-0-7864-1307-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=T.E.+Lawrence+%3A+biography+of+a+broken+hero&rft.pages=55&rft.pub=Jefferson+%3A+McFarland+%26+Co.&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=978-0-7864-1307-2&rft.aulast=Orlans&rft.aufirst=Harold&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Ftelawrencebiogra0000orla%2Fpage%2F54&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-LG_11_October_1927-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LG_11_October_1927_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGazette33319" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33319/page/6402">"No. 33319"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i>. 11 October 1927. p. 6402.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+33319&rft.pages=6402&rft.date=1927-10-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F33319%2Fpage%2F6402&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-LG_22_December_1931-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LG_22_December_1931_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGazette33782" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33782/page/8260">"No. 33782"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i>. 22 December 1931. p. 8260.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+33782&rft.pages=8260&rft.date=1931-12-22&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F33782%2Fpage%2F8260&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/biggles-flies-uncensored-more-whisky-less-jingoism-8944480.html">Patrick Cockburn, "Biggles flies uncensored: more whisky, less jingoism."</a> <i><a href="/wiki/The_Independent" title="The Independent">The Independent</a></i>, Sunday 17 November 2013 Retrieved 23 November 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.popularflying.com/Covers/81/">"Popular Flying Magazine – Issue 1 (of 88)"</a>. <i>Popularflying.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Popularflying.com&rft.atitle=Popular+Flying+Magazine+%E2%80%93+Issue+1+%28of+88%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularflying.com%2FCovers%2F81%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Cockburn 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejohns.com/Steeley/">The Steeley Books by Captain W E Johns</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.worrals.com/">Worrals books written by Captain W E Johns</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gimlet.co/">The Gimlet books written by Captain W E Johns</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejohns.com/SciFi/">Science Fiction books written by Captain W E Johns</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=206&cid=7&ctid=1">"Captain W. E. Johns"</a>. The Twickenham Museum<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 December</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Captain+W.+E.+Johns&rft.pub=The+Twickenham+Museum&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twickenham-museum.org.uk%2Fdetail.php%3Faid%3D206%26cid%3D7%26ctid%3D1&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Homework-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Homework_25-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHarris2006" class="citation web cs1">Harris, R (26 July 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.biggles.info/Details/97/">"Biggles does some homework – plot summary"</a>. <i>Biggles.info</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">3 February</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Biggles.info&rft.atitle=Biggles+does+some+homework+%E2%80%93+plot+summary&rft.date=2006-07-26&rft.aulast=Harris&rft.aufirst=R&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biggles.info%2FDetails%2F97%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AW.+E.+Johns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=W._E._Johns&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejohns.com/">Website covering all W. E. Johns' books</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.biggles.info/">The Biggles Information website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://bigglesforum.net/">Biggles Forum</a> Biggles Forum: Capt W. E. Johns reference and community</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.collectingbooksandmagazines.com/captain.html"><i>W. E. Johns and Biggles</i> on the Collecting Books and Magazines website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wejas.org.uk/">wejas.org.uk, Website celebrating W. E. Johns – the man and his work</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-boys-hero-biggles-helped-6296218">"How boys' own hero Biggles helped train the RAF pilots who won the Battle of Britain"</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Johns%2C%20W.%20E.%20%28William%20Earl%29">Works by W. E. Johns</a> at <a href="/wiki/Distributed_Proofreaders_Canada" title="Distributed Proofreaders Canada">Faded Page</a> (Canada)</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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