On a bitterly cold night in the North African desert, a new, crack British Army unit called the Special Air Service burst on to the scene and straight into the annals of history. Around 30 off-duty German and Italian fighter pilots were relaxing in the mess of the Wadi Tamet airbase when the door was suddenly kicked open, revealing a tall, bearded man in British uniform holding a Colt .45 revolver, flanked by two others with Tommy guns at the ready. “Good evening,” said Paddy Mayne breezily, in