Very interesting subject
I read a book on this sort of fear/anxiety a few years ago..it was based on on fighter pilot in WW11 in the battle of Britian. the brits needed pilots badly.. this bloke did the training and got through...they put him in a daytime fighter role and was so sh.t scared was useless...At that stage they (RAF) were putting a night fighter sqadron together called the night stalkers.. he joined this sqadron and came an ace...
His fear was speed and height..
Sorry I can't remember the books title...
google.com has some interesting subjects on night stalkers.