Johns, W. E. (1893-1968), a British children’s writer, gained great popularity among young people with his thrilling stories of Biggles, a daring and adventurous airman. Biggles was Captain James Bigglesworth, a model of toughness and honesty. He appeared in many short stories and more than 70 novels with his companions Algy, Bertie, and Ginger.
William Earl Johns was born on Feb. 5, 1893, in Hertford, Hertfordshire. He served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I (1914-1918) and was shot down, wounded, and taken prisoner in 1918. After the end of the war, he remained in the military, retiring in 1927. Johns founded the magazine Popular Flying in 1932. The first Biggles short stories appeared in the magazine that year. Johns created the commando hero Gimlet in 1944 and a female version of Biggles, a woman flier named Worrals, in 1941. Johns also wrote several books on aviation. He died on June 21, 1968.
