William Earl Johns (professionally known as W. E. Johns; 1893–1968) was an English writer and journalist. He wrote over 150 books and was, after Enid Blyton, "the most prolific and popular children's writer of his time". Most of Johns's work—102 books—consists of the stories of Biggles, a First World War pilot and, later, adventurer, detective and Second World War squadron leader. He also wrote science fiction stories, and two further series of war stories, featuring the characters Worrals of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and Gimlet, a British Commando.

Johns served in the army during the First World War. In 1917 he was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and saw action in Northern France. In September 1918 his aircraft was shot down and Johns, wounded, was captured by the Germans; he remained a prisoner until the end of the war, despite two attempts to escape. He remained with the RFC through its change into the Royal Air Force (RAF), and served with them until 1927.

On leaving the RAF he became a journalist and illustrator. In 1932 he founded Popular Flying magazine and became its first editor. He used the magazine to publish his Biggles short stories. Johns described Biggles as "typical of the type of British airman I knew during the Great War. His chief characteristics are courage, loyalty and sportsmanship." He continued to publish his stories in periodicals and newspapers throughout his career. Six months after the first Biggles stories were published they were collected in book form in The Camels are Coming. During the Second World War, Johns worked for the Air Ministry; the ministry asked him to create a female character to boost recruitment into the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, which resulted in the publication of the Worrals stories and books. The character was successful and the War Office requested Johns introduce a soldier, which led to the introduction of Gimlet.

Johns also wrote eight non-fiction books, most of which related to flying and pilots, although a book on gardening and two children's books—The Modern Boys Book of Pirates and The Biggles Book of Treasure Hunting—were also published. In 1942 Johns also co-wrote two radio plays, which were broadcast on the BBC.

As editor

+ Anthologies edited Title Year of firstpublication First edition publisher(All London) Wings: A Book of Flying Adventures J. Hamilton Amalgamated Press Thrilling Flights 1935 J. Hamilton

Fiction + The fictional books of W. E. Johns Title Year of firstpublication First edition publisher(London, unless otherwise stated) Series Notes J. Hamilton Biggles Mossyface Weekly Telegraph Novel – As William Earle J. Hamilton Biggles J. Hamilton – Biggles of the Camel Squadron J. Hamilton Biggles Biggles Flies Again J. Hamilton Biggles Biggles Learns to Fly Biggles J. Hamilton Biggles Biggles Flies East Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Hits the Trail Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in France Biggles J. Hamilton – Biggles & Co Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in Africa Oxford University Press Biggles Sky High Newnes Steeley Steeley Flies Again Newnes Steeley Blue Blood Runs Red Newnes – As Jon Early Biggles – Air Commodore Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Flies West Oxford University Press Biggles Murder by Air Newnes Steeley Biggles Flies South Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Goes to War Oxford University Press Biggles J. Hamilton Steeley Desert Night J. Hamilton – Champion of the Main Oxford University Press – Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in Spain Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Flies North Oxford University Press Biggles Wings of Romance: A Steeley Adventure Newnes Steeley Det Forsvunne Bagboksblad (The Missing Page) Forlagshuset, Oslo, Norway Steeley Biggles – Secret Agent Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in the Baltic Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in the South Seas Oxford University Press Biggles J. Hamilton – Biggles Defies the Swastika Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Sees It Through Oxford University Press Biggles Spitfire Parade Oxford University Press Biggles Worrals of the W.A.A.F. Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Biggles in the Jungle Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Sweeps the Desert Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Worrals Flies Again Hodder & Stoughton Worrals Worrals Carries On Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Sinister Service Oxford University Press – Biggles – Charter Pilot Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles in Borneo Oxford University Press Biggles Biggles Fails to Return Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Worrals on the War-Path Hodder & Stoughton Worrals King of the Commandos Hodder & Stoughton Gimlet Goes Again University of London Press Worrals Goes East Hodder & Stoughton Worrals Biggles in the Orient Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Worrals of the Islands: A Story of the War in the Pacific Hodder & Stoughton Worrals Biggles Delivers the Goods Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet Comes Home University of London Press Sergeant Bigglesworth CID Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet Mops Up Brockhampton Press, Leicester Comrades in Arms Hodder & Stoughton , Biggles, Worrals Worrals in the Wilds Hodder & Stoughton Worrals Biggles' Second Case Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Hunts Big Game Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Takes a Holiday Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet's Oriental Quest Brockhampton Press, Leicester Worrals Down Under Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Thomas Nelson – Biggles Breaks the Silence Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet Lends a Hand Brockhampton Press, Leicester Worrals Goes Afoot Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Worrals in the Wastelands Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Biggles Gets His Men Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet Bores In Brockhampton Press, Leicester Worrals Investigates Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals Doctor Vane Answers the Call Latimer House – Another Job for Biggles Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Goes to School Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Gimlet off the Map Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Works It Out Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Takes the Case Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Follows On Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles – Air Detective Marks & Spencer Biggles Gimlet Gets the Answer Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles and the Black Raider Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles in the Blue Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles in the Gobi Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles of the Special Air Police Thames Publishing Co. Biggles Short Stories Latimer House – Sky Fever, and Other Stories Latimer House – Gimlet Takes a Job Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Cuts It Fine Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles and the Pirate Treasure Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Foreign Legionnaire Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter Thames Publishing Co. Biggles Kings of Space: A Story of Interplanetary Exploration Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Biggles in Australia Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles' Chinese Puzzle Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Return to Mars Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Adventure Bound Thomas Nelson – Biggles of 266 Thames Publishing Co. Biggles No Rest for Biggles Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Now to the Stars Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Biggles Takes Charge Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Makes Ends Meet Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles of the Interpol Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles on the Home Front Hodder & Stoughton Biggles To Outer Space Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Adventure Unlimited Thomas Nelson – Biggles Presses On Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles on Mystery Island Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Buries a Hatchet Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton No Motive for Murder Hodder & Stoughton – Biggles in Mexico Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles' Combined Operation Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles at the World's End Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Hodder & Stoughton – Biggles and the Leopards of Zinn Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Goes Home Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles and the Poor Rich Boy Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles To Worlds Unknown: A Story of Interplanetary Exploration Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Adventures of the Junior Detection Club M. Parish – Where the Golden Eagle Soars Hodder & Stoughton – Biggles Forms a Syndicate Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles and the Missing Millionaire Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Biggles Goes Alone Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Orchids for Biggles Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Sets a Trap Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Takes It Rough Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Takes a Hand Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles' Special Case Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Plane That Disappeared Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Flies to Work Dean & Son Biggles Worlds of Wonder Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton Biggles and the Lost Sovereigns Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Black Mask Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles Investigates Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Looks Back Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles and the Plot That Failed Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Blue Moon Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Scores a Bull Hodder & Stoughton Biggles Biggles in the Terai Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Gun Runners Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Sorts It Out Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Dark Intruder Knight Books, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Penitent Thief Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Deep Blue Sea Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Dean & Son Biggles Biggles in the Underworld Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Little Green God Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles and the Noble Lord Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Sees Too Much 1970 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles Biggles Does Some Homework 1997 Norman Wright, Watford Biggles Biggles Air Ace: The Uncollected Stories 1999 Norman Wright, Watford Biggles

Publications in periodicals

Johns wrote a great number of short stories under his own name and the pseudonym William Earle; no complete list of these works exists. He was also a prolific contributor to articles, columns and news articles. He was the author of "The Passing Show" column for the My Garden magazine between 1937 and 1944 and a columnist for The Modern Boy, Pearson's Magazine, The Boy's Own Paper, The Girl's Own Paper and the ATC Gazette.

Title Date of publication Periodical Notes Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Stories from The Camel is Coming  – 15 April 1933 Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Stories from The Camel is Coming  – 21 October 1933 Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying Popular Flying As William Earle Boys' Friend Library  – September 1946 Air Stories Children's Gift Book  – November 1950 Collins Magazine for Boys & Girls  – March 1951  – September 1951  – September 1952  – September 1953 Published over eight issues TVTimes TVTimes Look and Learn  – September 1963 Look and Learn

Non-fiction

+ The non-fiction work of Johns Title Year of firstpublication First edition publisher Notes J. Hamilton With Harry M. Scholfield Fighting Planes and Aces J. Hamilton J. Hamilton Some Milestones in Aviation J. Hamilton 1937 My Garden 1939 Amalgamated Press 1959 M. Parish 1962 M. Parish

Broadcast works