The prologue sets the scene and explains this novel's title. It's December 1943 and Plt Off Kit Moran, an RAF flight engineer, finds himself undergoing psychiatric examination by an RAF doctor with the likelihood of disciplinary action for 'lack of moral fibre' - cowardice. This resulted from his earlier refusal to fly a second bombing mission to Berlin barely 24 hours after the previous one, when his skipper was killed and three other crew members wounded. Moran finally comes to an understanding with the doctor; he will retrain as a pilot in South Africa under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Having been awarded his wings, Moran then returns to the UK and goes through operational training to end up on No 617 Squadron flying Lancasters from Woodhall Spa in January 1945.
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