AUGUST 1932
Volume
1 Number 5 (5 of 88)
This issue of Popular Flying magazine features the “Biggles” story
The Blue Devil
Contents
This issue runs from page 257 to page 312 (56 pages)
Page
259 – Contents Page
(The
style of the contents page has now changed so the contents are divided into
‘Fiction’ and then ‘Fact Articles’ and then ‘Pictures’)
Page
262 – The Editor’s Cockpit – W. E. Johns
(A
paragraph at the end informs readers that the plan to give them free flights
has had to be shelved)
Page
264 – The Volunteer – ‘Icarus’
Page 266 – Finland to the Cape – Capt. Bremer
Page
268 – What would Drake say?
Page
269 - Knights of the Air : Baron
Manfred von Richthofen
(This
two page article was written by W E Johns
and gives details about the famous Baron’s 80 victories in the First World
War. In April 1917 he shot down 30
planes in 30 days! He concentrated on
attacking two seaters coming over the German lines and advised always to go for
the man, not the machine – but with a two seater you have to get the rear
gunner first, not the pilot. He himself
was shot down and killed on 21st May 1918 – states this article –
but this must be an error as future articles confirm he was killed on 21st
April 1918)
Page
272 – British Flying Schools No. 5 National Flying Services, Hanworth
Page 274 – The Blue Devil – A “Biggles” Story – William Earle
This
Biggles story continues on page 275.
The
illustrations are by Howard Leigh.
William
Earle was, of course, a pseudonym for W. E. Johns, his first names being
William Earl (without the ‘e’)
In
August 1932 this story was published in the first Biggles book – “The Camels
are Coming”
Page
276 – A Day in the life of a Moth
Page
279 – Women and Air – Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce
Page
282 – The Lost Oasis
(This
article is about the Lost Oasis of Zenzura and the possible recent discovery of
it. Fans of the the Biggles books will
know that this Lost Oasis was the basis for the story in “Biggles
Flies South”.
Page 283 (due to a typesetting error this is printed as Page 83) – Planes of History – The Fokker Triplane
(Baron
Manfred von Richthofen was killed on 21st May 1918 flying one of
these – states this article – but this must again be an error as future
articles confirm he was killed on 21st April 1918)
Pages
284 and 285 - The Centre Pages – an illustration by W.
E. Johns – Intercepted!
Page
287 – Falcons of France – A Thrilling Serial of War in the Air – Charles
Nordhoff and J. N. Hall
Page
290 – Believe it or Not! – Some Modern Aircraft of Unorthodox Design
Page
292 – My Most Thrilling Flight – “Brevet”
(This
account was published in 1936 in the book ‘Thrilling Flights’ as the 6th
of 20 accounts.
Johns
adds a note that the writer of this article has to ”appear under a nom de plume
for reasons which will readily be appreciated by readers who are acquainted
with service regulations” and he has only allowed this “because the writer is
known to me and I can vouch for the truth of the story in its essentials”).
Page
295 – Where to Fly
Page
296 – The Motoring Airman
Page
299 – SHELL advert that lists “some of the greatest Pioneer Flights in which
Shell are proud to have participated”
Page
300 – It’s a Gift
(A
short article about “The Modern Aircraft” – a book where you can lift up flaps
and see what is underneath the aircraft.
To be given away free – “you will find a postcard ready for posting at
the end of this issue of POPULAR FLYING”.
Not surprisingly ……….. there isn’t one in my copy!)
Page
301 – Shots from New Films
Page
302 – Told on the Tarmac
Page
304 – Round the Schools and Clubs
Page
308 – Air Post Stamps – Francis J. Field
Page
311 – The Buyers’ Log – Aircraft for Sale – Where to Fly – Opportunities
Inside
the back cover there is a John Hamilton advert for German War Birds
(illustrated with a picture of Manfred von Richthofen) and the advert also
includes The Pictorial Flying Course by H. M. Schofield and W.
E. Johns and for back issues of the first two issues of
Popular Flying Magazine “price 8d per copy, post free”.
Click here to see a much larger picture of
the cover artwork – the artist is uncredited
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