Biggles, Ginger and Algy have joined a volunteer squadron helping to defend Finland against Russian agression. Whilst dallying along the border they land to catch the dying words of a Polish scientist. He has conducted breakthrough research into metal alloys and hid details of his work whilst trying to flee to the Allies.

And so begins a series of adventures as the papers are found, lost, stolen, stolen back, dropped from a plane, until finally handed over to Raymond. The challenge of catching (and keeping) the papers is made harder because Von Stalhein is in charge of the Russian recovery party.