first published in hardcover by hodder and stoughton ltd, london.
3rd impression 1951 illustrated by stead (cvr & interior colour plate, b+w)
191pp incl. titles, frontispiece, inside end flypage
in colour-printed d-j, back of which consists of "a letter to every reader of this book" • "a man you should know", introductory advert. by w. e. johns to his "gimlet" books, also published by h&s ltd. other biggles (& other w.e.j. series) titles published by h&s ltd. listed on d-j flaps.