In Biggles in Australia, Ivan was an intelligence operative who was part of von Stalhein's espionage network in Australia. Cozens who was employed by the espionage network as a pilot knew Ivan was definitely a Russian and had heard him speak frequently to Smith in Russian. Biggles and Ginger first encountered Ivan when he arrived at Darwin on board Cozen's Auster to collect von Stalhein. Biggles described Ivan as "one of these cold-blooded, flat-faced bodyguards" they had often seen von Stalhein with and a "Iron-curtainmonger". Towards the end of the book, Ivan arrived at Daly Flats with Smith and some other members of the espionage network and were killed by Australian aborigines.
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