Exhaustion takes its toll

7th August 1940: Relentless days of being on alert - and flying several sorties every day - has fatal consequences for RAF fighter pilots

‘The Battle of Britain’ by Gordon Olive, who took up painting after the war and produced many memorable images of his flying days. Now in the RAF Museum.

Gordon Olive¹ was one of the first Australian pilots to fly with the RAF in Britain during the war. He first flew with 65 Squadron in the skies over Dunkirk and by August was very experienced. He had to …