mutley 4,487 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Capt Brown also held the world record for flying the greatest number of different types of aircraft - 487. During World War Two, Capt Brown, who was born in Leith in 1919, flew fighter aircraft and witnessed the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Capt Brown, who had been appointed MBE, OBE and CBE, died at East Surrey Hospital after a short illness. A statement released by his family said: "It is with deep regret that the passing of Captain Eric Melrose Brown CBE DSC AFC is announced. "Eric was the most decorated pilot of the Fleet Air Arm in which service he was universally known as 'Winkle' on account of his diminutive stature. "He also held three absolute Guinness World Records, including for the number of aircraft carrier deck landings and types of aeroplane flown." Capt Brown was educated at Edinburgh's Royal High School, before studying at the University of Edinburgh, where he learned to fly. He had caught the bug for flying at the age of eight when his father, a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One, took him up in a bi-plane. "There was no second seat, but I sat on his lap and he let me handle the stick," he told the BBC in 2014. "It was exhilarating. You saw the earth from a completely different standpoint." He retired from the Royal Navy in 1970 but became the director general of the British Helicopter Advisory Board and later the president of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1982.A landmark life Flew 487 different types of aircraft, a world record that is unlikely ever to be matched Piloted 2,407 aircraft carrier landings Appointed MBE, OBE and CBE Survived 11 plane crashes and the sinking of HMS Audacity in 1941 Met Churchill and King George VI numerous times Was at the liberation of Bergen Belsen Interrogated some of the leading Nazis after the war, including Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering and Belsen's chief guards Josef Kramer and Irma Grese Capt Brown wrote numerous books of his own and forewords for other authors on the theme of aviation, before and after his retirement. In March 2015 a bronze bust of him was unveiled at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset. At his 97th birthday celebration in London on 27 January he was joined by more than 100 pilots, including the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas. In 2014 , the war veteran was picked as the subject for the 3,000th edition of Desert Island Discs, during which he was described by presenter Kirsty Young as a "real life hero" and a "remarkable, dare-devil". http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nvgq1 "When you read through his life story, it makes James Bond seem like a bit of a slacker," she said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A true hero and local celebrity, he was the patron of our local aviation group. RIP Eric Winkle Brown, hero of this nation. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 RIP Capt Eric 'Winkle' Brown. He's now has wings on his back and is probably teaching the Angels how to fly. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,283 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Members can also find more replies here http://forum.mutleyshangar.com/index.php/topic/19539-rip-ericwinkle-brown/ Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 ...and is probably teaching the Angels how to fly. ...or at least teaching them how to fly closer to the edges of the envelope. I wonder how many feet of shelf space his logbooks take up? John Link to post Share on other sites
MyPC8MyBrain 273 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Youve made the world a better place, R.I.P Capt Eric 'Winkle' Brown. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Active until the end = a phenonominal career. Will be highly missed Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 RIP sir. 487 planes...wow...and I thought I was a variety junkie. Salute to your amazing life. Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 A truly incredible guy. I hope that this little green island never forgets all the courageous men and women that fought to keep it and us safe. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Quickmarch 488 Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 “He did what heroes do after their work is accomplished; he died.” - Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace R.I.P. Eric "Winkle" Brown Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now