LMF: To fear death was to be branded Lacking Moral Fibre - Book 1 of the LMF files

by Malcolm Havard, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

Dag is unpopular, awkward, aggressive, abrasive, a bomber pilot whose nerve has been pushed to the limit. He needs a rest but first he needs one more mission to complete his tour.

The his old crew refuse to fly with him.

So he must put together a scratch crew of misfits for one last mission - all with the risk of being branded lacking moral fibre if they turn back - the dreaded LMF...

Audible Audio

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Malcolm started writing fiction around 10 years ago, self-publishing three novels through Amazon including a mountaineering thriller, The Last Mountain, which has had more than 10,000 downloads. He also has two books published by a small publisher, including a collection of WW1 stories which topped the Amazon anthology best-sellers list at Christmas 2014.
His short stories have done well in a number of competitions, including runner-up placings for those run by Henshaw Press and the Mere Literary Festival.
Having written in several genres early in his career, Malcolm has now settled into writing historical fiction.
This includes LMF, a WW2 novel set during the RAFs controversial night bombing campaign, Leviathan, a novella about a young, frightened pilot hunting Zeppelins in the night during WW1, The Neutral Zone, a collection of short stories, and Eleven Days, a novel set around the events of 'Bloody April'. 1917.
LATEST NEWS!
The long-awaited sequel to LMF, The Way Back, is published 15 March 2021.

Reviews

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)

LMF was a gritty, realistic, fictional war story that made me feel like I was in the plane along with the characters.

Havard does an amazing job of dropping us into the cockpit. He recreates the emotions, the ugly realism, and the deep seated fears of a pilot in World War Two.

This story wasn’t an easy read, but it sucked me in all the same. Although at the beginning I got confused with the multiple characters, I quickly caught on to who was who, and I became invested in everyone’s survival.

I would definitely recommend this to any fans of historical fiction!

*I was given a free copy of this book through Booktasters and this is my honest, voluntary review.*

[Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Masterpiece

This book is a.must read for anyone interested in Bomber Command. Well written and well researched with an eye for detail, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Put simply, it is a masterpiece and one of the best books of its genre I have read. The whole subject of LMF cases, what happened to them and the stories behind those who simply had suffered enough is still shrouded in mystery and silence over seventy years later.

My grandfather, a sparky at Silloth spoke of them once, he said many aircrew were treated awfully if they showed signs of strain or cracked under the pressure. I do not know enough about the subject and have met too few survivors to fully understand what it must have been like.

This book explores the motivations, courage and doubts of what were incredibly brave young men cast into a World of almost certain death. A truly sobering read that I shall take some time to think about and then read again.

[Raghad Muath · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story!!
I just adore a well-researched history stories! I am not usually a fan of history novels but just recently I have decided to expand my readings and am glad I did.

The writer took the extra mile to gather information and give us a fantastic book, although it's about WWII, intense, but as long as it was fast-paced and well written, I've enjoyed every page of it.

[Gordon Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

First class.

Great Writer, fascinating story. Probably happened many times. Soldiers were shot for it in WW1. The staff should lead from the front.

[Kalpanaashri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to the author Malcolm for sharing this amazing book with me and also to Booktasters who ensured that I discover this gem.
Quite a tumultuous ride, I will never forget this book. If I have to give a quick note – I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Genre:
Historical fiction set in World War II period.

Synopsis:
Set during World War II, one fateful night, an unlikely crew of seven in RAF (Royal Air Force) go on a bombing mission. Target: Germany. The crew includes a high-strung pilot who has to lead them into success. Will they succeed this battle? Or will their individual battles take over their mission? Do they work together as a team and pull this off? Or do they abandon the mission and risk being labelled as L.M.F or Lacking Moral Fiber?

Review:
This is the first time I am reading historical fiction set during World War II. So, it was highly fascinating to read about RAF and the period of war.
Right off the bat, the author sets the stage for a quite tense, emotional and remarkable ride. There are many characters, but the author devotes enough time for each of them. The scenes keep changing, traveling from present to past. It is well paced.

The book is well written. Before we realize, we actually get hooked to them. The author makes us understand how every member of the crew is vital to the mission. The war isn’t easy and reading about their individual struggles, it makes us feel for them. Dealing with a problematic pilot, aircraft mechanical failures, lack of actual support from Squadron Leader in terms of morale and battling their individual varied personalities, this ride is quite intense. There are times we feel like questioning the authority for their questionable attitude and judgment. But during times of war, maybe tough decisions are necessary.

There is hint of romance which adds a beautiful touch to this already intense story.

This book also makes us realize the sacrifices which every soldier had to make – especially not being with family during the times of need. The book also touches upon psychological trauma which every soldier undergoes – whether being lone survivor in a mission, or watching dead crew in front of them or fighting inner battles questioning what is right and what is wrong.

The author manages to weave entire story with L.M.F being the back drop which makes it worth a read.

Suggestion for the author:
The only thing which I would suggest author is to include a glossary of certain technical terms. This would help the readers who are new to the world of aircrafts and RAF as a whole.

I certainly recommend this book and can’t wait to read Book 2!

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

LMF by Malcolm Havard

I received an arc and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Historical fiction set during the second world centred around an RAF bombing team and their precarious mission over Germany.
LMF or “ lack of moral fibre “, a brand of shame given to RAF members,under scrutiny following their exploits on what was quickly doomed to failure. The choice between risking their lives or being labelled in this manner was characterised as the lowest of the low, an embarassment to the “ core “ and cowardly. Malcolm Havard begins with the explanation and inquiry into the events of that fateful night.

This is one of my favourite areas of history, driven by morbid curiosity, because there is so much to discover. I have read many books about this period but this is my first covering the RAF. After the first chapter, I already felt heavily invested with the characters, each becoming a “real” person, not just words.It quickly became apparent how traumatising their experiences must have been which the author relates masterfully, the horrendous pressure and stress that men, both young and old, endured. To make matters worse, these men were also very real human beings, suffering from their own individual problems, unrelated to the war. Bearing that in mind they were still expected to put their duties first and carry out their assignments. Malcolm Havard paints a harrowing picture, including the reader in the cockpit of the plane, accompanying the crew members, witnessing their actions firsthand.

I stayed up late several nights reading this because once you begin to peel off the layers and discover the real personalities behind the fighting men, the raw terror they felt laid out on the page...I couldn't begin to imagine. The author puts pen to paper, bringing to life the sights, smells and sounds of what being in a cockpit must have been like, a band of men, forced together whether they liked it or not, having to become a team and act as one, knowing full well their own life and the lives of the crew depended on it.

LMF embodies the cost of conflict, combined with the humanity and intimacy of Malcolm Havard's writing, giving a more personal understanding of what was at stake, entangled in bureaucratic insanity.

I rate LMF 5 out of 5 stars.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

RAF bombing crew sets out on a night mission to bomb an industrial complex in Essen, Germany. The crew is a mixed bag of aviators recruited from around the base. Their pilot is flying his last mission and focused on finishing it. Can they merge into a focused band committed to one goal? The aircraft they’ve been placed in is cobbled together. It is apparent that this will be the plane’s last flight. Last minute engine repairs delay their take off. At the request of the pilot, the navigator adjusts their flight plan so they can rejoin the group. Will they be able to fulfill their mission or will they be shot down?

Lack of moral fiber (LMF) is a serious military offense. This stirring story of WWII captures the actions of each member of the crew from their mission report and from their own perspective. The author’s unique method of relating the story provides a robust version of events. The actions of each character are understandable as the reader gains insight into their innermost thoughts.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The unique manner in which the author tells the story is perfectly suited to its topic. While the story is about a bomber crew, there are more issues under the surface. How will these men work together to achieve their assignment? Can national pride override moral code? Read this fascinating book, it’s a great commemoration to the difficulties encountered by our service men.

[Maria Rivas-mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a difficult book to read.
Not because it was boring, or badly written. Quite the opposite, in fact.
It’s wartime and people die, especially the ones who are sent out to fight - the 18 year old, the homosexual, the man whose wife is dying of cancer thousands of miles away, the one who is betraying his friend, the man who has never been able to live up to his father’s reputation, the expectant father, and the skipper, suffering dreadfully from PTSD.

Each one is a story that we are privileged to share for a few hours. But they are all barely holding it together, something like the plane taking them into the fray.

Murray, sent to investigate the LMF, summed it up: “Pointless, the whole thing, a waste of time, everything, his mission, Dag’s, the crew of C-Charlie, probably the whole bloody bombing campaign.”

According to the author, Malcolm Havard, WW2 RAF Bomber Command crews had an extremely high casualty rate: 55,573 killed out of a total of 125,000 aircrew (a 44.4 percent death rate).

And that is why I dragged out the reading. The author had provided a complimentary copy for a fair review so I had an obligation to do so. It is a good book, just a hard one for me.

[Charlotte Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, compelling story. I read it in 2 sessions on the same day.
Complex characters & absorbing plot. You become so involved in the story you feel almost like you are in that rickety plane with the crew.

My only criticism is that I did however, find it confusing to keep track of who was doing what, especially for the first part of the story. I think this was because I couldn't always keep the names straight as sometimes they were identified by first names & then sometimes by last names or nicknames. This may have been a personal issue just for me.

I'm very happy to have been introduced to this book & I enthusiastically recommend it.

[Alfredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

UK bombers command, 1944. A crew of rejected, misfits, survivors and crewless greenies. A plane that should be on the scrapyard. An apathetic commander. All spares, ill pull together. Shall they be able to do their job over Germany?

As always Malcolm Havard writes air action that keeps you on the edge of the seat. The only problem I had is that there are so many condemnded... errr crewmen that I confused them all till mid book.

[Kathleen Van Lierop · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! I really enjoyed the books of Malcolm Havard due to
his writing style and the characters. I also liked the book cover. For this story,
the author did his research very well! And he had an eye for details! I wanted
to know the end.

I will recommend this book to all who like to read about historical stories and
especially about World War II.

I want to give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating for this fantastic book!

[Barry Doswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling but hard read

Interesting style, and not the normal book I’d read. The author has a good story to tell, but it drags in places and reading it is somewhat challenging. Some of the characters on the edge of the story are too flat and stereotypical. I’d like DAG to have been rewarded in some way, so the book seems to end early. But, it is readable and compelling.

[William Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very real

Ive not read abook for a long time that gripped me like this one, it had me frightened angry and every emotion in between . There were occassions when I wanted not to finish it, but I did , and Im glad.

If you want an easy book to read, then dont buy this one. Unfortunately it left me feeling angry at the end

[Stephen John Scoffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human Nature.

Great story wealth of different characters. Everyone unique in every sense , all human beings at the end of the day . Many hard decisions were made by the crew , compelling novel ! Well worth a good read liked the shortness of the chapters.

[Steven Ballance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

What a fantastic read. A can't put you down read. You could smell thrye fear, the terror, the cordite. A story that could have been real.
Well done Malcolm, looking forward to more of the same.

[thomas gerard haile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good

As an ex RAF pensioner I thought it was very true to life and
Could only have been written from experience of a similar shocking event.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed WWII stories since I was a child but this one tops all. The characters are well rounded, the action cost me a couple of fingernails, and the outcome, while not definitive, was realistic and chilling.

[T.M. Drechny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prologue sets the stage for a tense story depicting an RAF bomber crew and their mission over Germany during WWII. The writer brings to life the individuals who make up the mismatched crew through the eyes of an investigator sent to review a Court of Inquiry Report whose findings brand a decorated pilot as having a lack of moral fiber, essentially a coward. Between aircraft mechanical issues and crew personalities, the story moves at a rapid and dramatic pace to an unexpected ending. I found myself feeling the cold of January in Britain, the heat of the fires over Germany, and the fear and uncertainty of each crewman as they battle their personal problems and the very real mission that could end all of them in an instant. Although a fictional account, the story is true to human nature, leaving out the heroism typical in many war stories, making for a meaningful read.

[Michael Frankland · Rating 5 out of 5]

LMF

Excellent novel, pace spot on with well developed characters with a gripping story right to the end. Please do a sequel.