<p>'I hold the greatest respect for Len for what he achieved in the RAF.' ? Gordon Mitchell, son of Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell<br>In May 1940, 20-year-old Len Thorne joined the RAF, as did many young men during the Second World War. After two hectic tours of operational duty as a fighter pilot, including some desperately dangerous low-level flying at Dunkirk, he was posted to AFDU (Air Fighting Development Unit) and remained there as a test ...