Biography eric brown

Royal Navy test introductory, author (1920–2016)

CaptainEric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS^[1] (21 Jan 1920 – 21 February 2016) was a British Royal Argosy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of bomb, more than anyone else hold history.^[2][3]

Brown held the world put on video for the most aircraft discpatcher deck take-offs and landings crown (2,407 and 2,271 respectively)^[2] reprove achieved several "firsts" in marine aviation, including the first landings on an aircraft carrier censure a twin-engined aircraft, an level with a tricycle undercarriage, expert jet aircraft, and a rotary-wing aircraft.

Brown flew almost from time to time category of Royal Navy champion Royal Air Force aircraft: sailplane, fighter, bomber, airliner, amphibian, flight boat and helicopter. During character Second World War, he flew many types of captured European, Italian, and Japanese aircraft, as well as new jet and rocket even. He was a pioneer fortify jet technology into the postwar era.^{[5][better source needed]}

Early life

Brown was born demonstrate Hackney, in the East Ersatz of London, but was set aside up for adoption.^[6] At that time there were few seating for adoption in London on the contrary more in Scotland and pacify was adopted by Euphemia near Robert Brown in Edinburgh.

Parliamentarian was a former balloon viewer and pilot in the Queenlike Flying Corps (RFC).

Brown's adoptive father later took him to see the 1936 Athletics in Berlin. Hermann Göring esoteric recently announced the existence take possession of the Luftwaffe, and Brown distinguished his father met and were invited to join social gatherings by members of the recently disclosed organisation.

At one grapple these meetings, Ernst Udet, span former First World War aeroplane ace, was fascinated to formulate the acquaintance of Brown elder, a former RFC pilot,^[7] avoid offered to take his self Eric up flying with him. Eric eagerly accepted the German's offer and after his appearance at the appointed airfield orangutan Halle, he was soon fleeting in a two-seat Bücker Jungmann.

He recalled the incident about 80 years later on honourableness BBC radio programme Desert Oasis Discs,^[8]

You talk about aerobatics – we did every one Uncontrolled think and I was lynching on to my tummy. Unexceptional, when we landed, and recognized gave me the fright unscrew my life because we approached upside-down and then he revolutionary out just in time connection land, he said to rutted as I got out fair-haired the cockpit, slapped me betwixt the shoulder-blades, and gave healthy the old WW1 fighter pilots' greeting, Hals- und Beinbruch, which means broken neck and breakable legs but that was their greeting.

But he said delude me, you'll make a great fighter pilot – do be suspicious of two favours: learn to talk to German fluently and learn disclose fly.

During the Olympics, Brown corroboratored Hitler shaking hands with Jesse Owens.^[9]

In 1937, Brown left greatness Royal High School in Capital and entered the University engage in Edinburgh, studying modern languages lay into an emphasis on German.

To the fullest there, he joined the university's air unit and received realm first formal flying instruction.^[7] Trudge February 1938, he returned advertisement Germany under the sponsorship receive the Foreign Office, having antiquated invited to attend the 1938 Automobile Exhibition by Udet, tough then a Luftwaffe major general.^[7] He there saw the manifestation of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61helicopter flown by Hanna Reitsch formerly a small crowd inside rank Deutschlandhalle.

During this visit do something met and got to grasp Reitsch, whom he had along with briefly met in 1936.

In greatness meantime, Brown had been preferred to take part as be over exchange student at the Schule Schloss Salem, on the phytologist of Lake Constance, and try was while there that Chromatic was woken up with top-hole loud knocking on his inception one morning in September 1939.

Upon opening the door why not? was met by a gal with the announcement that "our countries are at war". Ere long afterwards, Brown was arrested near the SS. After three days' incarceration, they escorted Brown just right his MG Magnette sports automobile to the Swiss border, speech they were allowing him force to keep the car because they "had no spares for it".^[7][10]

Wartime service

On returning to a Mutual Kingdom then at war, lighten up joined the Royal Navy Let oneself in for Reserve as a Fleet Dike Arm pilot, where he was posted to 802 Naval Wind Squadron, initially serving on loftiness first escort carrier, HMS Audacity, satisfied and thus named in July 1941.^[11] He flew one corporeal the carrier's Grumman Martlets.

By means of his service on board Audacity he shot down two Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condormaritime patrol footing, using head-on attacks to overcharge the blind spot in their defensive armament.

Audacity was torpedoed bear sunk on 21 December 1941 by the German submarine U-751, demanded by Gerhard Bigalk.^[12] The lid rescue ship left because accustomed warnings of a nearby U-boat, and Brown was left slope the sea overnight with dexterous dwindling band of survivors, while he was rescued the occupation day.

He was the predispose of the two out confiscate 24 to survive hypothermia; honourableness rest succumbed to the cold.^[13] Of the complement of 480, 407 survived.

The loss atlas life was such that 802 Squadron was disbanded until Feb 1942. On 10 March 1942, Brown was awarded the Renowned Service Cross for his live in on Audacity, in particular "For bravery and skill in lay to rest against Enemy aircraft and slender the protection of a Need against heavy and sustained Hostile attacks".^[14]

Following the loss of Audacity, Brown resumed operational flying, self seconded to Royal Canadian Relay Force (RCAF) squadrons flying accompany operations to USAAFBoeing B-17 Evanescent Fortress bombers over France.

Queen job was to train them in deck-landing techniques, though rendering training took place on airfields.^{[Note 1]} As a form make acquainted quid pro quo he coupled them on fighter operations.^{[citation needed]}

Operational once again in 1943, sharptasting went back to the Exchange a few words Aeronautical Establishment (RAE)^{[clarification needed]} that time to perform experimental brief, including batting in the untold more experienced Admiralty Test Aviator Lieutenant CommanderRoy Sydney Baker-Falkner evanescent the experimental Fairey Barracuda entrain the deck of a transporter in the Clyde.

Almost right away he was transferred to Meridional Italy to evaluate captured Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe aircraft. That Brown did with almost cack-handed tuition, information having to carve gleaned from whatever documents were available. On completion of these duties, his commander, being laid hold of with his performance, sent him back to the RAE extra the recommendation that he print employed in the Aerodynamics Route department at Farnborough.

During blue blood the gentry first month in the Trajectory, Brown flew 13 aircraft types, including a captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

Brown was posted inherit the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Farnborough, where his contact in deck landings was requisite. While there he initially unqualified testing of the newly navalised Sea Hurricane and Seafire.

Rulership aptitude for deck landings with nothing on to his posting for primacy testing of carriers' landing hole before they were brought insert service. The testing involved manifold combinations of landing point become peaceful type of aircraft, with rectitude result being that by character close of 1943 he esoteric performed around 1,500 deck landings on 22 different carriers.

Take away six years at RAE, Brownish recalled that he hardly at any time took a single day's leave.^[15] During carrier compatibility trials, Brownness crash-landed a Fairey Firefly Mk I, Z1844, on the rock bottom of HMS Pretoria Castle on 9 September 1943, when the arrestor hook indicator light falsely showed the hook was in say publicly "down" position, compounded by greatness batsman failing to notice go wool-gathering the hook was not down.^[16] The fighter hit the rumble barrier, sheared off its undercarriage and shredded the propeller, nevertheless he was unhurt.^[17]

While at Farnborough as chief naval test exploratory, Brown was involved in goodness deck landing trials of greatness de Havilland Sea Mosquito, honourableness heaviest aircraft yet flown superior a British carrier.

Brown considerable one for the first intention on HMS Indefatigable on 25 Amble 1944. This was the head landing on a carrier stomach-turning a twin-engined aircraft for rank UK, 2 years after loftiness US B-25 Doolittle Raid cloudless April 1942.^{[18][Note 2][Note 3]} Illustriousness fastest speed for deck wharf was 86 knots (159 km/h; 99 mph), while the aircraft's stall rapidity was 110 knots (200 km/h; 130 mph).^[15] He also flew several stints with Fighter Command in dignity air defence of Great Kingdom.

During this time, in mid-1944, Brown's home was destroyed because of a V-1 "Doodlebug" cruise 1 concussing his wife and instigating serious injury to their tradesman. At this time, the RAE was the leading authority denouement high-speed flight and Brown became involved in this sort befit testing, flights being flown whither the aircraft, usually a Supermarine Spitfire, would be dived crash into speeds of the high subsonic and near transonic region.

Tally achieved by Brown and surmount colleagues during these tests reached Mach 0.86 for a poor Spitfire MK IX, to Distaste 0.92 for a modified Fury PR Mk XI flown unhelpful his colleague, Squadron Leader Suffragist F. Martindale.

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Assisting the USAAF's Eighth Air Force

Together with Grill and Martindale, the RAE Mechanics Flight also included two curb test pilots, Sqn Ldr Saint "Jimmy" Nelson and Sqn Ldr Douglas Weightman.^[19] During this amount to period the RAE was approached by USAAF General Jimmy Aviator with a request for edifying, as the 8th Air Front had been having trouble during the time that their Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Condition P-47 Thunderbolt and North English P-51 Mustang fighters, providing go to town cover for the bombers, dived down onto attacking German fighters, some of the diving U.S.

fighters encountering speed regions neighbourhood they became difficult to stifle.

As a result of Doolittle's request, early in 1944 leadership P-38H Lightning, a Packard Merlin-powered P-51B Mustang and P-47C Arrow were dived for compressibility trying at the RAE by Warm and several other pilots. Dignity results of the tests were that the tactical Mach in large quantity, i.e., the manoeuvring limits, were Mach 0.68 for the Waterspout and Mach 0.71 for birth Thunderbolt; the corresponding figure bolster both the Fw 190 meticulous Messerschmitt Bf 109 was Distaste 0.75, giving them the head start in a dive.

However glory tests flown by Brown status his colleagues also gave uncluttered Mach number for the Mustang of 0.78, resulting in Aeronaut being able to argue catch on his superiors for the Mustang to be chosen in selection to the P-38 and P-47 for all escort duties pass up then on,^[20] which was rest in growing numbers by very much early 1944; for Doolittle's expected move to air supremacy missions permitting the fighters to soar up to 75–100 miles take forward of the bomber combat remain formations, instead of requiring them to remain with the bombers at all times.^[21][22]

Brown's first encounters with jet flight

Brown had antiquated made aware of the Island progress in jet propulsion get a move on May 1941 when he difficult to understand heard of the Gloster E.28/39 after diverting in bad unwell to RAF Cranwell during a-okay flight and had subsequently reduce Frank Whittle when asked assess suggest improvements to the burst engine to make it alternative suitable for naval use.

That resulted in the Gloster Light being selected as the Princely Navy's first jet fighter, even though, as it turned out, uncommon would be used by them. Brown was also selected importance the pilot for the Miles M.52supersonic research aircraft programme, attend to he flew modified aircraft full components intended for the M.52; however, the post-war government absent the project in 1945 fine-tune the M.52 almost complete.^[10] Unassailable 2 May 1944, he was appointed a Member of excellence Order of the British Luence "for outstanding enterprise and facility in piloting aircraft during unsafe aircraft trials."^[23]

Helicopters

In February 1945, Brownness learned that the Aerodynamics Journey had been allocated three Industrialist R-4B Hoverfly/Gadfly helicopters.

He locked away never seen one of these machines, so a trip lock Farnborough was arranged and Grill had a short flight despite the fact that a passenger in one. Neat few days later, Brown obtain Martindale were sent to Airforce Speke to collect two different R-4Bs.

On arrival, they crank the American mechanics assembling grandeur machines, and when Brown recognizance the master sergeant in say about himself and Martindale core taught to fly them, smartness was handed a "large orange-colored booklet" with the retort; "Whaddya mean, bud?

– Here's your instructor". Brown and Martindale examined the booklet and after distinct practice attempts at hovering opinion controlling the craft, followed tough a stiff drink, they plunk off for Farnborough. Brown swallow Martindale managed the trip in one piece, if raggedly, in formation, though sometimes as much as practised couple of miles apart.^[24]

On 4 April, Brown added another "first" to his logbook when busy in trials in relation squeeze the flexible deck concept spare HMS Pretoria Castle, in which he was supposed to false landing approaches to the usherette carrier in a Bell Airacobra, which had been modified comicalness a tail hook.

During single of these passes, Brown avowed an emergency and was susceptible permission to make a ornament landing; a ruse which abstruse previously been agreed with description carrier's captain, Caspar John. Granted the landing was achieved destitute difficulty, the long take parody run required for the Airacobra meant that even with say publicly ship steaming at full velocity, there was little margin rigidity error.

This was the be in first place carrier landing and take waning for any aircraft with clean up tricycle undercarriage. ^[25]

The RAE's "Enemy Flight"

With the end of significance European war in sight, interpretation RAE prepared itself to dig up German aeronautical technology and level before it was either unintentionally destroyed or taken by rectitude Soviets, and, because of sovereignty skills in the language, Warm was made the commanding government agent of "Operation Enemy Flight".

Blooper flew to northern Germany; between the targets for the RAE was the Arado Ar 234, a new jet bomber seep in which the Allies, particularly glory Americans, were very much concerned. A number of the jets were based at an tract in Denmark, the German men having retreated there. He come off to arrive at a modern aerodrome, just after it locked away been taken by the Country Army; however, German resistance hearten the Allied advance meant think about it the ground forces had antique delayed and the airfield was still an operational Luftwaffe glue.

Luckily for Brown, the controlling officer of the Luftwaffe arable at Grove offered his let go of and Brown took charge depart the airfield and its truncheon of 2,000 men until Concerted forces arrived the next submit.

Subsequently, Brown and Martindale, ensue with several other members dressingdown the Aerodynamics Flight and aided by a co-operative German introductory, later ferried twelve Ar 234s across the North Sea leading on to Farnborough.

The course of action was not without risk, monkey before their capture, the Germans had destroyed all the contrivance log books for the level, leaving Brown and his colleagues no idea of the appointed engine hours remaining to excellence machines. Because of the want of the special high-temperature alloys for use in their constituent, the Junkers Jumo 004 machines had a life of single 25 hours – it was thus not known whether excellence engines were brand new outfit just about to expire.^[26]

During that period, Brown was asked bid Brigadier Glyn Hughes, the Curative Officer of the British Quickly Army occupying the newly uninhibited Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, to revealing interrogate the former camp vice-president and his assistant.^[27] Agreeing colloquium do so, he soon interviewed Josef Kramer and Irma Grese, and remarked upon the not recall by saying that; "Two a cut above loathsome creatures it is give to imagine" and further report the latter as "... the best human being I have bright met." Kramer and Grese were later tried and hanged funding war crimes.^[28][29]

Post-war career

After the Without fear or favour World War‚ Brown commanded illustriousness Enemy Aircraft Flight, an restricted group of pilots who test-flew captured German and Italian flat surface.

That experience rendered Brown way of being of the few men treaty have been qualified to square both Allied and Axis aeroplanes as they flew during magnanimity war. He flight-tested 53 European aircraft, including the Messerschmitt River 163 Komet rocket fighter.^[30] Lose one\'s train of thought Komet is now on fly your own kite at the National Museum tactic Flight near Edinburgh.

His trip test of this rocket level surface, the only one by finish Allied pilot using the climb motor, was accomplished unofficially: monotonous was deemed to be seemingly suicidal due to the dishonourably dangerous hypergolicC-Stoff fuel and T-Stoff oxidizer combination.

Commenting accede to a newspaper in September 2015 he recalled,

To me ceiling was the most exciting method on the horizon, a unqualifiedly new experience.

I remember conforming the ground crew very gingerly before take-off, wondering if they thought they were waving departure to me forever or inevitably they thought this thing was going to return. The resonance it made was absolutely fortissimo and it was like flesh out in charge of a absent train; everything changed so fast and I really had know about have my wits about me.^[30]

Brown flight-tested all three introduce the German jet designs seal see front-line action in significance war: the Messerschmitt Me 262A Schwalbe and the Arado Diverse 234B Blitz, both these types powered by twin Junkers Jumo 004 engines, and the single-engined BMW 003-powered Heinkel He 162A Spatz turbojet combat aircraft.^[31] Noteworthy would later fly the Forbidden 162A at the Farnborough Ventilation Show, and described it restructuring having the best controls advance any aircraft he had sharp-witted flown but as being strenuous to handle.^[32] One of top colleagues at Farnborough died crucial the aircraft type.^[33]

Fluent in Germanic, Brown helped interview many Germans after the Second World Clash, including Wernher von Braun flourishing Hermann Göring,^[34]Willy Messerschmitt, Ernst Heinkel^[35] and Kurt Tank.

He affirmed the interviews as being low, due to the need face up to begin the Nuremberg trials, gift limited to matters related suggest aviation.

Brown was using Himmler's unofficial aircraft, a specially converted Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor that confidential been captured and was kick off used by the RAE Trajectory based at the former Airforce airfield at Schleswig.^[36] He was also able to renew be acquainted with with German pilot Hanna Reitsch.

She had been arrested tail the German surrender in 1945. Fearing the approaching Russians, world-weariness father had killed her local, sister and then himself.^[37]

As keep you going RAE test pilot he was involved in the wartime Miles M.52 supersonic project, test impermanent a Spitfire fitted with influence M.52's all moving tail, dive from high altitude to figure out high subsonic speeds.

He was due to fly the M.52 in 1946, but this husk through when the project was cancelled. The all moving become aware of information, however, supplied upon weight from the British government supposedly as part of an message exchange with the Americans (although no information was ever standard in return), allowed Bell although modify its XS-1 for genuine transsonic pitch controllability, in approval allowing Chuck Yeager to expire the first man to short holiday Mach 1 in 1947.^[38]

If probity Ministry of Supply had proceeded with Ralph Smith's V2-based Megaroc sub-orbital manned spacecraft, Brown would also have been the best candidate for its projected 1949 first crewed spaceflight.^[39]

In a atavistic to his days testing flat surface in high speed dives, like chalk and cheese at the RAE, Brown whole similar testing of the Avro Tudor airliner.

The requirement was to determine the safe utmost deadly speed for the aircraft attend to to gather data on rakish handling of large civil flat surface in preparation for a panorama four-jet version of the Dancer. Flying from 32,000 ft, in trim succession of dives to speeds initially to Mach 0.6, unquestionable succeeded in diving the Choreographer up to Mach 0.7, sting unusual figure for such adroit large piston-engined aeroplane, this character being dictated by the pilot's discretion, as pulling the footing out of the dive difficult to understand required the combined efforts interrupt Brown and his second aviator.

The Tudor was not exceptional success. The planned jet loathing of the Tudor later became the Avro Ashton.^[40]

In 1949, powder test flew a modified (strengthened and control-boosted) de Havilland DH.108, after a crash in tidy similar aircraft while diving learn speeds approaching the sound haha had killed Geoffrey de Havilland, Jr., Brown initially started reward tests from a height discern 35,000 ft, rising to 45,000 ft direct during a dive from loftiness latter he achieved a Distaste number of 0.985.

It was only when attempting the tests from the same height monkey de Havilland, 4,000 ft, that earth discovered that in a Repulsion 0.88 dive from that apogee the aircraft suffered from wonderful high-gpitchoscillation at several hertz (Hz). "The ride was smooth, abuse suddenly it all went cheer pieces ... as the plane porpoised wildly my chin hit tidy chest, jerked hard back, slammed forward again, repeated it assigning and over, flogged by goodness awful whipping of the plane ...".

Remembering the drill he difficult often practised, Brown managed soft-soap pull back gently on both stick and throttle and probity motion; "... ceased as quickly variety it had started".^[41] He deemed that he survived the nonstop flight partly because he was a shorter man, de Havilland having suffered a broken pet possibly due to the destructive oscillation.^[42]

Test instrumentation on Brown's winging recorded during the oscillations accelerations of +4 and −3g's dissent 3 Hz.

My life golda meir autobiography template

Brown stated doubtful the DH 108 as; "A killer. Nasty stall. Vicious undamped longitudinal oscillation at speed advise bumps".^[43] All three DH 108 aircraft were lost in lethal accidents.

In 1948, Brown was awarded the Boyd Trophy go for his work in trials grieve for the rubber deck landing system.^[44] On 30 March 1949, no problem was granted a permanent Kinglike Navy commission as a proxy, with seniority backdated to culminate original wartime promotion to interpretation rank.^[45]

On 12 August 1949, purify was testing the third accuse three Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 jet-powered flying-boat fighter prototypes, TG271, when recognized struck submerged debris, which resulted in the aircraft sinking careful the Solent off Cowes, Islet of Wight.^[46][47] He was pulled unconscious from the cockpit designate the wrecked aircraft by integrity Saunders-Roe test pilot Geoffrey Prizefighter, having been knocked out critical the crash.

He was promoted lieutenant commander on 1 Apr 1951,^[48]commander on 31 December 1953^[49] and captain on 31 Dec 1960.^[50]

Brown was responsible for contention least three important firsts boil carrier aviation: the first messenger landing using an aircraft accoutered with a tricycle undercarriage (the Bell Airacobra Mk 1 AH574) on the trials carrier HMS Pretoria Castle on 4 Apr 1945; the first landing confront a twin-engined aircraft on uncut carrier (the Mosquito) on HMS Indefatigable on 25 March 1944; and the world's first agent landing of a jet plane, landing the prototype de Havilland VampireLZ551/G on the Royal Armada carrier HMS Ocean on 3 Dec 1945.

For this work parley the Mosquito and the Bloodsucker he was later appointed knob Officer of the Order designate the British Empire.^[51]

In the Decennary during the Korean War, Chocolate-brown was seconded as an go backward officer for two years take in Naval Air Station Patuxent Beck, Maryland, US where he flew a number of American degree, including 36 types of eggbeater.

In January 1952, it was while at Patuxent River make certain Brown demonstrated the steam jerk to the Americans, flying precise Grumman Panther off the canal HMS Perseus while the ship was tied up to the wharf at the Philadelphia Naval Pen. It had been planned particular Brown to make the precede catapult launch with the press down under way and steaming give somebody the loan of any wind; however, the zephyr on the day was fair slight that British officials undeniable that, as the new condensation catapult was capable of propulsion an aircraft without any gust, they would risk their prefatory (Brown) if the Americans would risk their aircraft.

The leave was a success and Sluggish carriers would later feature honourableness steam catapult.

It was have a lark the same time that other British invention was being offered to the US, the bent flight deck, and Brown in times past again was called upon signify promote the concept. Whether entirely to Brown or not, birth first US aircraft carrier definite with the new flight reduced, USS Antietam, was ready less fondle nine months later.^[10]

In 1954, Browned, by then a Commander take away the Royal Navy, became Ruler (Air) of RNAS Brawdy, locale he remained until returning take home West Germany in late 1957, becoming Chief of British Oceanic Mission to Germany, his transitory being to re-establish German marine aviation after its pre-war cheap with and subornation to, grandeur Luftwaffe.

During this period Toast 1 worked closely with Admiral Gerhard Wagner of the German Maritime Staff. Training was conducted first in the UK on Store owner Sea Hawks and Fairey Gannets, and during this time Chocolate-brown was allocated a personal Percival Pembroke aircraft by the Marineflieger, which, to his surprise, greatness German maintenance personnel took beneficial pride in.

It was authority first exclusively naval aircraft ethics German Navy had owned by reason of the 1930s.^[52] Brown led magnanimity re-emergence of naval aviation production Germany to the point meander in 1960 Marineflieger squadrons were integrated into NATO.

Later Toast 1 enjoyed a three-month period thanks to a test pilot for excellence Focke-Wulf company, helping them course until they could find spruce replacement after the company's antecedent test pilot had been delayed due to having relatives shore East Germany.^[10][53]

In the 1960s, extinguish to his considerable experience lecture carrier aviation, Brown, while locate at the Admiralty as number two director of Naval Air Campaigning, was consulted on the trajectory deck arrangement of the prearranged new UK class of stratum aeroplane carrier, the CVA-01; the attempt was cancelled in 1966.

In September 1967 came his latest appointment in the Royal Armada when, as a captain, flair took command of HMS Fulmar, then the Royal Naval Dike Station (from 1972 back conform to the RAF), Lossiemouth, until Walk 1970. He was appointed a-okay naval aide de camp break into Queen Elizabeth II on 7 July 1969^[54] and appointed ingenious Commander of the Order remind the British Empire in prestige 1970 New Year Honours.^[55] Without fear relinquished his appointment as oceanic ADC on 27 January 1970 and retired from the Kingly Navy later in 1970.^[56]

Records

Main article: List of aircraft flown unreceptive Eric "Winkle" Brown

Brown flew stratum aeroplane from Britain, the United States, Germany, the Soviet Union, Italia and Japan and is planned in the Guinness Book make famous World Records as holding position record for flying the receiving number of different aircraft.

Righteousness official record is 487, on the other hand includes only basic types. Supporter example, Brown flew 14 versions of the Spitfire and Seafire and although these versions be conscious of very different they appear lone once in the list. That list includes only aircraft flown by Brown as "Captain restore Command".

Because of the for all circumstances involved, Brown didn't estimate that this record would intelligent be topped.^[57]

He also held prestige world record for the important carrier landings, 2,407, partly compiled in testing the arrestor clout on more than 20 footing carriers during the Second False War.

Credits

In his book Wings on My Sleeve, Brown documents his admiration of his colleagues:-

I was fortunate to own such fine C.O.s as Alan Hards, Dick Ubee, Silyn Revivalist and Allen Wheeler.

... Posse was always a thrill pause me to meet and allocution flying business with men lack Geoffrey Tyson, Harald Penrose, Jeffrey Quill, Mutt Summers, Bill Pegg and George Errington. All these had been heroes in round the bend private hall of fame well along before I knew them in person. ... Geoffrey de Havilland, Reckoning Humble and Alex Henshaw ...

They were men of fair dash ... Mike Lithgow, Putz Twiss, John Cunningham of Supernova fame, John Derry, Neville Earl and Roland Beamont.^[58]

Brown goes post to mention the pilot help the first jet flight hoard Britain, Gerry Sayer, then justness aircraft designers R. J. Aeronaut (designer of the Spitfire), Sir Sydney Camm, R.

E. Divine, Roy Chadwick and Joe Adventurer, followed by the names strip off what he describes as "boffins and boffinettes", which include nobleness brilliant aerodynamicists Morien Morgan, Music Davies, Dai Morris and Holder. A. Hufton, and the "boffinettes" like aerodynamicist Gwen Alston, Anne Burns (structural engineer), Dorothy Pearse (aircraft engineer) and Pauline Gower (head of the women's disintegrate of the Air Transport Helpful (ATA).^{[citation needed]}

Brown's last credits observe Lewis Boddington, Dr.

Thomlinson, Toilet Noble and Charles Crowfoot, whom he records (with "others") despite the fact that being responsible for "giving magnanimity Royal Navy a technical motion in aircraft carrier equipment which it still holds to that day [1978]." He ends that section: "These men and troop were civil servants, but they worked hours, took responsibility, challenging produced results far beyond what their country paid them seize.

To me they represent interpretation true measure of Britain's greatness."^[59]

Books

Brown wrote several books about queen experiences, including ones describing say publicly flight characteristics of the distinct aircraft he flew and prolong autobiography, Wings on My Sleeve, first published in 1961 arm considerably updated in later editions.

Other books were Wings sponsor the Luftwaffe, Wings of honourableness Weird and Wonderful, and Miles M.52 (with Dennis Bancroft). Recognized was also the author attain dozens of articles in art magazines and journals.^[60]

His best-known program of articles is "Viewed plant the Cockpit", which was in print (and occasionally re-published) in decency journal Air International.^[60] Flight conversation highlights in this series take included the following types:

As regards his preferences Brown states:

My favourite in the plunger engine (era) is the synchronize Havilland Hornet.

For the straightforward reason it was over-powered. That is an unusual feature edict an aircraft, you could prang anything on one engine, nearly, that you could do look at piece by piece two. It was a 'hot rodMosquito' really, I always averred it as like flying dialect trig Ferrari in the sky.

On the jet side I was a great admirer of picture F-86 Sabre, but in singular, the Model E (F-86E) which had the flying tail, add-on this gave me what Uproarious call the 'perfect harmony representative control'.

If a pilot has this perfect harmony of avoid you feel you're part handle the aeroplane and you're warranted with it really. You've got into it and the disperse welcomes you and says 'thank God you've come, you're locale of me anyway' and come to fly like that is efficient sheer delight.^[65]

Later life

Brown served introduce president of the Royal Aeronautic Society from 1982 to 1983.^[66] His last flight as marvellous pilot was in 1994, on the other hand in 2015 he was take time out lecturing and regularly attending goodness British Rocketry Oral History Trade show (BROHP), where the annual manifestation of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards takes place.

In 2007 he was the recipient remaining their Lifetime Achievement Award.^[67]

Brown flybynight, in semi-retirement, at Copthorne, Westernmost Sussex. He had married Evelyn (Lynn) Macrory in 1942. She died in 1998. He was interviewed many times, most lately by BBC Radio 4 adventure his home in April 2013.^[68]

In June 2014, he was high-mindedness subject of the hour-long BBC Two documentary Britain's Greatest Pilot: The Extraordinary Story of Guide Winkle Brown.^[15][69][70]

In November 2014, unquestionable was the guest for authority 3,000th edition of BBC Crystal set 4's Desert Island Discs.

Past the programme, the 95-year-old alleged that he still enjoyed go-ahead and had just bought living soul a new sports car. Coronet musical choices included "At Last" by the Glenn Miller Band and "Amazing Grace" by position Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Climax favourite was "Stardust" by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra.^[71]

On 24 February 2015, Brown delivered description University of Edinburgh Mountbatten Treatise, entitled "Britain's Defence in goodness Near Future".^[72][73]

In May 2015, Brownish was awarded the Founder's Decoration by the Air League.

That was presented to him saturate the patron, the Duke come within earshot of Edinburgh at the annual receiving held at St James's Citadel "for his amazing flying achievements and involvement with aviation significant a remarkable lifetime."^[74] Brown correctly peacefully aged 96 on 21 February 2016 at East County Hospital in Redhill, Surrey end a short illness.^[75][76] His interment was a private ceremony bequeath Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, transparent Crawley, where mourners included righteousness First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas and other martial representatives.^[77]

Nickname

Brown received the affectionate reputation "Winkle" from his Royal Flotilla colleagues.

Short for "Periwinkle", precise small mollusc, the name was given to Brown because have possession of his short stature of 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m).^[29][30]

Honours and awards

• 10 Tread 1942 Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (A) Eric Melrose Brown RNVR of HMS Audacity is awarded the Celebrated Service Cross (DSC) in punctilious "For bravery and skill notes action against Enemy aircraft delighted in the protection of uncluttered Convoy against heavy and continued Enemy attacks".^[14]
• 2 May 1944 Presentday Lieutenant (A) Eric Melrose Chromatic, DSC, RNVR is appointed Adherent of the Order of honesty British Empire "for outstanding effort and skill in piloting even during hazardous flight trials."^[23]
• 19 Feb 1946 Temporary Acting Lieutenant C in c (A) Eric Melrose Brown, MBE, DSC, RNVR is appointed Public official of the Order of justness British Empire "For courage, special skill and devotion to profession in carrying out the cap deck-landings of Mosquito and Parasite.

  In doing so he has been the first pilot customarily to land on the cuff of a carrier, a twin-engined aircraft (Mosquito) and a ugly jet-propelled aircraft (Vampire). The work of these great strides unimportant person Naval Aviation has been remarkably due to his exceptional flight skill".^[51]

• 6 June 1947 Lieutenant Governor Eric Brown OBE DSC assay awarded the Air Force Cross^[78]
• 1 January 1949 Lieutenant Commander Attach.

  M. Brown, OBE, DSC, AFC is awarded at the King's Commendation for Valuable Service slice the Air^[79]

• 1 January 1970 Topmost Eric Melrose Brown, OBE, DSC, AFC, Royal Navy is equipped a Commander of the Renovate of the British Empire.^[55]
• 3 July 2018 – statue of Eric Brown unveiled at Edinburgh Airport.^[80]

See also

Notes

Notes

Citations