Captain W.E. Johns
You can find an extensive biography in the Captain W.E. Johns
Catalogue.
Here are some highlights:
William Earl Johns was born in 1893 in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England as
son of a tailor. During World War I he first served as machine-gunner and
from 1918 as fighter pilot with the RFC in France. He was shot down over
Mannheim, became a POW, escaped, was caught again and sentenced to death.
He was saved by the sudden ending of the war!
He stayed with the Royal Air Force until 1931, as flight instructor and
later recruiting officer. When he left his rank was "Flying Officer". When
several years later he became a successful author he added "Captain" to his
name.
He started his career as a very skilful aviation artist/ illustrator/
painter for many purposes (magazines, brochures, postcards, posters,
books).
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William Earl Johns |
In the early thirties he created his most famous hero,
James Bigglesworth
- "BIGGLES" -, in short stories based on his own World War I experiences and
on those of his friends. Biggles almost immediately became very popular en
was turned into a junior hero for boys.
Altogether Johns wrote 98 books, not in chronological order
(see chronology list), on Biggles!
He was also very successful as author of
non-fiction (aviation, gardening)
and other fiction series with other heroes/heroines, like the female pilot
Worrals,
Gimlet and
Steeley and even a
science fiction series.
Johns wrote 167 books and probably hundreds of short stories!
He died in 1968, while writing the book "Biggles does some homework";
Biggles was to retire in that particular story!
His books were published in 26 countries and he was the second best selling
children's author (after Enid Blyton) in the UK!
There was also published one movie about Biggles.
Still his Biggles books are being republished in several countries
(the Netherlands,
Belgium,
Czech Republic,
United Kingdom) and
also new stories, based on the original characters, are frequently found.
Over than 40 years after his death Captain W.E. Johns is still very much with
us!
Copyright © the International BIGGLES
Association. All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 16, 1760 AA Anna Paulowna, The
Netherlands.
If you have any comments or questions, please send an e-mail
to info@biggles.nl.
In case of technical problems, please send an e-mail to
webmaster@biggles.nl.