The Kidnapped Scientist was a 24-page story which first appeared in issue #24 of the Adventures of Biggles comic series published by Action Comics of Sydney, Australia. The drawings were credited to Arthur de Vine.
The story was later republished in the U.K. by Strato Publications as the first story of issue #1 of their Adventures of Biggles series. The Strato issue comprised 68 pages with a different cover and also included other Biggles and some non-Biggles stories.
Synopsis[]
A scientist is shot down, kidnapped and held as a prisoner in Hainan, China. Biggles is sent to rescue him. The story is split into two parts although both parts (with the part division) were first published together in the same comic issue.
Plot[]
(Click on expand to read)
A DC-3 carrying Professor Baxter towards Hong Kong is shot down by Chinese Mig-15s. A Beriev flying boat lands near the wreckage and captures the Professor who has managed to get into a dinghy.
Professor Baxter is a top British scientist who invented a secret weapon. Raymond sends Biggles to rescue him before he is forced to divulge the details of the weapon.
Biggles flies to Hainan in an Auster but he is spotted by Mig-15s. Biggles lands and manages to get away just as the plane is shot up. He has lost his maps so he wanders about and comes across a farmhouse. He enters cautiously and is surprised to be greeted by Su Chiang who speaks English. Of all the luck! Su Chiang is sympathetic to the west and offers to help. He tells Biggles Baxter is held in a city thrity miles north. He has a friend in the resistance there who can help.
But Chinese soldiers examine the wreckage of the Auster and, finding no body, investigate. They follow Biggles' tracks to the farmhouse and one of them knocks at the door. Su Chiang admits him and Biggles steps out of a closet and disarms him and ties him up. Dressed in the Chinese uniform, Biggles then departs in a car with Su Chiang for the city.
Meanwhile outside, a second Chinese soldier is puzzled to see his companion apparently driving off with Su Chiang. He reports to his superior who thinks Su Chiang is taking him to find Biggles. The soldier is dissatisfied and returns to the farmhouse where he discovers his companion all tied up. They raise the alarm.
Chinese soldiers set up an ambush on the road but one soldier fires too soon and gives the game away. Su Chiang swerves the car onto a mountain track but soon has to stop as his old car can go no further. They continue to the city on foot.
In the city Su Chiang looks up his friend To Fong. He agrees to help and tells him Baxter is in the army barracks in a cell facing the square. He also gives Su Chiang some grenades.
At the barracks, Biggles knocks out the sentry. They then toss some grenades into the compound. The ensuing explosions and fire cause pandemonium. In the chaos, Biggles releases Baxter and the three get out of the barracks unnoticed.
Su Chiang drives them (where did the car come from--he had let it in the mountains) to the coast where they steal a boat. The next day they are picked up by an American destroyer.
Characters[]
The Special Air Police[]
- Air Commodore Raymond
- Biggles
Others[]
- Jim - second pilot of the DC-3
- Pete - captain of the DC-3
- Professor Baxter
- Su Chiang
- Tu Fong
Aircraft[]
- Auster J1 Autocrat
- Douglas DC-3
- MiG-15
- Chinese flying boat - possibly a Beriev Be-6
Places[]
Visited[]
- Hainan
Mentioned[]
- Hong Kong - Baxter's original destination
Research notes[]
Gallery[]
