The Story Behind Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot's Story
I’d seen reference to LMF (which was a term invented by the RAF leadership in 1940 and used only in WWII and exclusively in the RAF) while researching my novel on the Battle of Britain. However, I didn’t know much about the concept — except that men suffering from what we would call PTSD were apparently labelled “LMF” (i.e. “cowards”) and subjected to severe disciplinary action. So, the first thing I had after being told to write this novella was to do some systematic research on the whole concept of “LMF” as instituted and applied by the RAF.
This turned up some very surprising studies published, for example, by the Journal of Mental Science and the British Journal of Military History. These in turn drew on extensive studies conducted during and after the war with such fascinating titles as Anatomy of Courage, Courage and Air Warfare, and War of Nerves. Not surprisingly, perhaps, these studies revealed a far more nuanced and sophisticated picture than what airman remembered decades after the fact or the public thought they knew.
Meanwhile, I was immersed in writing a book that completely absorbed me mentally and emotionally. I didn’t only have to learn about LMF, after all, but about Bomber Command, the British strategic bombing offensive, bomber aircraft, bomber crews, bomber training and crewing up, etc. etc. You see, all my aviation research up to this point had been focused on Fighter Command (for my Battle of Britain novel), the ATA (for the book on women pilots) and Transport Command (for the book on the Berlin Airlift.) Fortunately, I like historical research!
Yet that isn’t really the heart of the issue. What was really going on was that I was being asked to write a specific story, Kit Moran’s story. I don’t know if that was his real name, but it is the name used in the novel to describe what happened to a young man who was using me as his voice. That may be difficult for some readers to understand, but it is the only way I can explain what was happening.
After very intense months of researching and writing, I completed a novella to be included in the Grounded Eagles anthology/trilogy. Yet no sooner had I finished it, than I realized that the novella (entitled “Lack of Moral Fibre”) was only the teaser, or introduction, for the longer work. The novella explained, through many flashbacks, what had led up to Kit refusal to take part in an operation against Berlin in late November 1943; the real story, however, was what came afterwards.
There was nothing I could do but change all my plans, push back other work, and focus on telling the rest of Kit’s story. This is what became Moral Fibre. I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with such a wonderful young man. Furthermore, through him I also came to understand and appreciate the woman he loved, Georgina. I was sorry when I’d finished the 7th draft and had to “let go” — i.e. send the manuscript off to the publisher.
And that is the story behind the story of Moral Fibre.
Riding the icy, moonlit sky—
They took the war to Hitler.
Their chances of survival were less than fifty percent.
Their average age was 21.
This is the story of just one Lancaster skipper, his crew,
and the woman he loved.
It is intended as a tribute to them all.
Flying Officer Kit Moran has earned his pilot’s wings, but the greatest challenges still lie ahead: crewing up and returning to operations. Things aren’t made easier by the fact that while still a flight engineer, he was posted LMF (Lacking in Moral Fibre) for refusing to fly after a raid on Berlin that killed his best friend and skipper. Nor does it help that he is in love with his dead friend’s fiancé, who is not yet ready to become romantically involved again.
“[The hero’s] struggles, his life, and the romance he is continuously hoping and striving to have with the woman he loves hits you directly in the soul, but the addition of adventure and excitement makes you want to read cover-to-cover without ever having to put the book down…. The intriguing dialogue, the settings, the clear descriptions of such harsh situations – this author has hit on all cylinders once again, and even provides the most exhilarating history lesson I, personally, have ever had the pleasure of reading. “5-Stars!” Feathered Quill
“[Moral Fibre] takes the reader into the English psyche of [WWII], tapping the depths of human emotions, holding them up to the light, and revealing their concomitant beauty and ugliness in times of fear and crises. … Meticulously researched and skillfully written, Schrader’s Moral Fibre steps off the pages and comes to life. Her nuanced characters and authentic dialogue also provide a glimpse of Britain’s stratified class-conscious culture during the WWII era.
…. A riveting read and highly recommended!” – Chanticleer Reviews 5-Stars
“Helena P. Schrader … is a true master at delving into complex psychological dilemmas and emerging with a tantalizing, completely comprehensible tale of human frailty and strengths that blend into a unique experience for her readers. Moral Fibre is brilliantly crafted in its delicate treatment of an evolving relationship … and the clashes with staid tradition and prejudices. How they each evolve is the meat of Schrader’s magic. The relationship and romance scenarios are poignant and human, contrasted with the battle scenes and flying sequences which are accurate and detailed.” – Tom Gauthier for Readers Favorites
Book Information
Release Date: May 16, 2022
Publisher: Cross Seas Press
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1735313924; 436 pages; $19.95; E-Book, $9.49
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zAlbkL
Distributor: https://itascabooks.com/products/moral-fibre-a-bomber-pilots-story?_pos=1&_psq=Moral+Fibre&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Helena P. Schrader is an established aviation author and expert on the Second World War. She earned a PhD in History (cum Laude) from the University of Hamburg with a ground-breaking dissertation on a leading member of the German Resistance to Hitler. Her non-fiction publications include “Sisters in Arms: The Women who Flew in WWII,” “The Blockade Breakers: The Berlin Airlift,” and “Codename Valkyrie: General Friederich Olbricht and the Plot against Hitler.”
In addition, Helena has published eighteen historical novels and won numerous literary awards. Her novel on the Battle of Britain, “Where Eagles Never Flew,” won the Hemingway Award for 20th Century Wartime Fiction and a Maincrest Media Award for Historical Fiction. RAF Battle of Britain ace Wing Commander Bob Doe called it “the best book” he had ever seen about the battle. “Traitors for the Sake of Humanity” is a finalist for the Foreword INDIES awards. “Grounded Eagles” and “Moral Fibre” have both garnered excellent reviews from acclaimed review sites such as Kirkus, Blue Ink, Foreword Clarion, Feathered Quill, and Chantileer Books.
Her latest book is the historical/military fiction, Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot’s Story.
Visit her website at http://helenapschrader.com or connect with her on Facebook. You can also visit her blogs:
Thanks so much for hosting this post! I enjoyed talking about how "Moral Fibre" came into being. I hope that knowing why I wrote this book will encourage people to take a look at it. I'd so hate to disappoint Kit by failing to get his story out to as many reasons as could possibly be interested.
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