TROUBLE IN THE WIND a WW1 aviation action adventure thriller

by Richard Townshend Bickers

Before the dogfights, before the legends—there was the birth of aerial combat

It is September 1914. The Great War has begun—but for Lieutenant Andrew Aird, his Royal Flying Corps squadron is still grounded in England. Frustrated by inaction while others fight and fall, Aird longs for the chance to prove himself above the trenches of France.

When the call finally comes, he joins the fledgling air war—a chaotic realm of unarmed reconnaissance, mechanical failure, and a sky where rules have yet to be written. Flying over shattered fields and burning towns, Aird witnesses the brutal transformation of cavalry warfare into a new kind of battle fought from the clouds.

As he navigates rivalries, near-death experiences, and brushes with German Taubes in the sky, Aird finds himself growing into a leader, caught between the traditions of his past and the uncharted future of aerial combat.

Richard Townshend Bickers, himself an RAF veteran, delivers a richly detailed, quietly compelling novel of the early days of war in the air—a world before dogfights, where every flight might be your last.

Perfect for fans of Derek Robinson, Patrick Bishop, Cecil Lewis, and historical military fiction that balances technical detail with deep character insight.

PRAISE FOR RICHARD TOWNSHEND

‘A thrilling page turner,’ Tom Kasey, bestselling author of The Trade Off

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Great read!’ Colin S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I enjoyed all three books.’ Llewellyn

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent book again about RFC in the First World War.’ Mr R.J. and Mrs C.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I liked the perspective of the English, German and French fliers.’ Randall M.

Genres: World War I

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2025

About the author

Richard Leslie Townshend Bickers has written more books about the RAF and its predecessor, the RFC, than any other author past or present - some under a pseudonym. Being multilingual, he does his own research in foreign archives and by interviews and correspondence. His short stories and newspaper articles were first published and broadcast while he was a serving RAF officer. By the time he left the RAF his first four novels had appeared. His biography of his friend "Ginger" Lacey, the top-scoring pilot in the Battle of Britain, was published to acclaim in 1962.Bickers volunteered for the RAF on the outbreak of war and served, with a Permanent Commission, for eighteen years. In England he operated with Fighter and Coastal Commands; in North Africa and Italy with Desert Air Force and Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force. After the war he did a tour in Hong Kong and Malaya.

Reviews

[Bruce Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

How “True” World Wars began with all their devastation

Rocks, sticks, spears, bows and arrows, swords, single shot “guns”, cannons, rapid fire guns, poisons, armored vehicles on land and sea, all evolved and still evolving, and then air vehicles including balloons and aircraft. And now missiles, jets and guided drones of all shapes and sizes. Warfare, to man’s folly, evolves. And “leaders” who bring on the wars cause immense damage to their “enemies” and their own country’s citizens. Unbearable misery, pain and suffering, all for “country”, but really for ego and man’s worst instincts and behavior. This book is about the beginning of air “warfare”, its glory and its pain and the men, mostly, who fought it and saw it evolve in a few short years. It tells of their lives, attitudes, behavior and loss along with PTSD in its years before it was named, even though it didn’t dwell on it or even define it much. It’s a great story of air war, war in general and the coming “trouble in the wind”…the Great War that was to become the First World War, and the start of many more “world” wars. Read it, enjoy it and then think about mankind’s history and its future.

[John Nino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming “ungentlemen”

A rather deep psychological study of one man enduring the changes in modern warfare. Any way you look at it it becomes hell! Poison gas, armed aero planes. Machine guns. Flak guns. Good plot. Mostly well written though it drags a bit in spots. Focus on only a few characters. Good reading.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, well-written and -edited story of RFC pilots in early WW1. Interesting characters and settings, very well researched, didn't want to put it down.

A few typos, and occasionally the author talks about what things will be like later in the war, which pulled me out of the story. All in all, a good read, and clearly the start of a series.

[Mrs. Nicky M. Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early technology

I enjoyed the technical aspects which the author wrote about with considerable knowledge, perhaps for the future he could consider the point of view as seen from the enemy? A good read never the less. I look forward to reading further books.

[gerald morson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

A well written book plenty of insight to the start of the first World war and how things progressed .

[Richard Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good history on how the airplane transitions from a passive tool to an aggressive weapon. Sometimes a little wordy but all in all, a good read.

[Snakeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale WW1 Early Avaiton