Character Close-Up: Mark Way

For such a wonderful character, Mark Way only appears for a very short space of time (in Biggles Learns to Fly, and one short story in Biggles of 266). Even after Biggles was posted to 266, he still thinks of Mark as “…the man whom he still regarded as his best friend, and with whom he had so many thrilling adventures.”

Biggles of 266
Image from Wikipedia

There is very little in the way of physical description when it comes to Mark. In fact, all we know is that:

“…a deeply tanned, keen-eyed young officer tapped Biggles on the arm. ‘I’m Mark Way,’ he said. ‘It looks as if we shall be flying together, so the sooner we know each other the better.’
‘That’s true,’ said Biggles. ‘Have you been out here long?’
‘Nearly three months,’ replied Mark simply. ‘But I saw a bit of active service with the infantry before I transferred to the RFC. I came over with the New Zealand contingent; my home is out there.’
‘Sporting of you to come all this way to help us.’”

--Biggles Learns to Fly

Mark’s friendly manner and war flying expertise soon puts Biggles at ease, and it is his advice that saves Biggles from many a dire situation. Once, when Mark is sick and Biggles has to fly with another gunner, he finds himself feeling a little worried: “He realized for the first time just how much confidence he had in Mark, and the comfort he derived from the knowledge that he had a reliable man in the observer’s cockpit.”

Oh, Mark, Mark, Mark.

I think I’ve got a crush on you.