Threat to Gibraltar was issue #19 in the Adventures of Biggles comic series published by Action Comics of Sydney, Australia. Issue 19 was probably published in 1955 with drawings by Arthur de Vine and comprised 24 pages including covers. The story is told in two parts.
The inside front cover has a picture page depicting jet trainers: a Meteor T7, a Fokker S14 and a Fiat G80. At the back is another picture page depicting Russian jets: a IL-28, an unnamed aircraft said to be in the same class as the Gloster Javelin and an aircraft said to be Mig-19. This is inaccurately drawn and is actually a Mig-9, although the drawing shows a swallow-tail which the actual aircraft does not have.
Synopsis[]
French intelligence has recovered a cryptic note alluding to a threat which Biggles deciphers. He notes links to Gibraltar and Raymond assigns him to neutralise the threat. In this story, Biggles acts alone, without Algy, Ginger or Bertie.
Plot[]
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Air Commodore Raymond shows Biggles a cyptic note which French intelligence has found on spies they have arrested. According to Biggles, it is about" a threat or gibe to a church" and that something is about to happen at the altar. Biggles links Gibe and Altar and thinks it could mean a threat to Gibraltar.
Biggles goes to France and arranges with French intelligence to release the spies, Jose Ferros and Kurt Starke. He follows them to a safehouse. At the back of the house he finds an open door leading to a passage. He listens at a door hears voices about someone being sent to Gibraltar. Suddenly the door opens an a man steps out. Biggles moves fast and punches him, shuts the door and locks it. He runs off, pursued by several spies but he manages to escape in a taxi.
Next, to Gibraltar in a Short Sealand. After explaining the situation to British intelligence, they think they can insert him through their (double) agents into a foreign spy netFrom work as a renegade willing to work for money. Accordingly, Biggles is introduced as "Sam King" to none other than Jose Ferros and Kurt Starke at a cafe. Apparently they did not see him at the safehouse in France! They hire Biggles and tell him to get information about Gibraltar Harbour defences.
Later, Biggles meets Jose and Kurt again at the cafe. This time he hands over photos of harbour defences which he has taken. They are impressed but Jose spots some men coming to the cafe. They could be British intelligence agents on a raid! They hastily get out of the cafe escape down some narrow lanes and finally take a boat across to Spain. This is no surprise to Biggles because the raid was part of his plan.
From Spain they board a launch and head out to sea where they meet a merchant ship. On board is their boss, Mr Arnkoff. Arnkoff is pleased with Biggles' work. Jose and Kurt take Biggles to the control room where they show him radio controlled launches which they can use to attack Gibraltar's harbour installations. But Arnkoff comes in to tell them that they need to test Biggles. He wants to send his photo to his representatives in Tangiers to run a check on him. Biggles decides he must now try to escape before he is blown.
On deck, Biggles sees a launch departing for Spain. He overpowers his "minders" Jose and Kurt and jumps overboard. He climbs onto the launch and overpowers the two men crew and drives off. However the ship launches another boat which soon catches up with him. Biggles turns his boat suddenly and rams his pursuer. It is sunk but his own boat also begins to take on water. It heels over but Biggles manages to swim to his Sealand.
Once in the air, he heads to the merchant ship and bombs it. He hits it with his second bomb but he himself is hit by gunfire from the ship. The Sealand is damaged and loses height. But Biggles manages to get a radio message off to the navy. The Sealand ditches into the sea but Biggles manages to swim out and is picked up by a navy destroyer. The destroyer reaches the sinking merchant ship and a boarding party is sent out with Biggles. Arnkoff, Jose and Kurt surrender to the boarding party and Biggles is also able to retrieve all the documents about their spy operations before the ship sinks.
Characters[]
The Special Air Police[]
- Air Commodore Raymond
- Biggles
Others[]
Aircraft[]
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