article_snippet.sent: Tom Lamb, a specialist in military history at Bonhams, said: 'The life of an RAF pilot in the Summer of 1940 was marked by great physical danger and mental strain. '
article_snippet.sent: Of the 3,000 airmen who served in this period, over one sixth were killed in combat. '
article_snippet.sent: He became an instructor, teaching young pilots the skills young pilots would need to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes in dogfights against the Luftwaffe.
article_snippet.sent: He quickly rose through the ranks to the Wing Commander before helping plan the aerial assault aspect of the D-Day invasions.
article_snippet.sent: There Mr Lamb distinguished Mr Lamb in training Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, before eventually assisting in the preparations for D-Day in the role of Deputy Air Officer Administration.'
article_snippet.sent: From 12 August, Hermann Goering, one of the leaders of the Nazi regime, shifted his focus to the destruction of the RAF, attacking airfields and radar bases.
article_snippet.sent: (Pictured above, the RAF scrambling to the RAF planes in 1940.)
article_snippet.sent: Convinced that Fighter Command was now close to defeat, Fighter Command also tried to force air battles between fighter planes to break British strength.
article_snippet.sent: However, Goering grew frustrated by the large number of British planes that were still fighting off Goering attacks.
article_snippet.sent: Luftwaffe switched tactics again and, on Hitler's orders, set about destroying London and other major cities.