heads up, Eric brown on BBC 2

[RetiredBA/BY]

Capt Eric Brown is to be featured in a BBC2 programme on Sunday at 9pm.

Should be WELL worth watching.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

This is a man with extraordinary talents that gave him a unique role during the War and afterwards. His skill as a fighter pilot helped prove the concept of the escort carrier, a key innovation during the struggle in the Atlantic (and he describes one convoy battle in some detail), then his aptitude in landing on a carrier resulted in him instructing other naval pilots who were needed to fight the war, from which he started test flying.

He played a role in solving the problems encountered by wartime aircraft. Following Germany's surrender, his talent for languages (which had earned him a University scholarship before the war) led to him being involved in exploring German technologies, and interviewing captured Nazis such as the commandant of Belsen.

Post war he was involved with test flying, squadron flying as a naval pilot, and development work for Fleet Air Arm aircraft and British carrier innovations. He was involved with Cold War work at the MOD, naval attaché to West Germany and finally Command Officer of RNAS Lossiemouth.

He holds the word record for the greatest number of aircraft types flown by a single person.

[Hempy]

He holds the word record for the greatest number of aircraft types flown by a single person.

+ Taught himself to fly a helicopter by reading the manual! :eek:

Sorry, I couldn't help myself :)


List of aircraft flown by Eric "Winkle" Brown as Pilot in Command

The list includes only the main aircraft types, for example, Brown flew fourteen (14) different Marks of Spitfire/Seafire, but only the basic types are listed.

Aeronca Grasshopper
Aerospatiale Alouette
Aerospatiale Ecureuil
Aerospatiale Twin Squirrel
Agusta 109
Aichi Val
Airspeed Ambassador
Airspeed Envoy
Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Oxford
Arado 96B
Arado 196A
Arado 199
Arado 232B
Arado 234B - Blitz
Arado 240
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Auster Aiglet
Avro Anson
Avro Athena
Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancastrian
Avro Lincoln
Avro Manchester
Avro Shackleton
Avro Tudor
Avro Tutor
Avro York
B.A. Swallow
BAe 125
BAe 146
BAe Hawk
BAC Lightning
Baynes Carrier Wing
Beagle B.206
Beagle Pup
Beech Baron
Beech Bonanza
Beech Super King Air
Beech Traveller
Beechcraft Expediter
Bell AH-1 Huey
Bell 47
Bell 204
Bell 222
Bell Airacobra
Bell Airacomet
Bell HTL-5
Bell Jet Ranger
Bell King Cobra
Bell Long Ranger
Blackburn Beverley
Blackburn Botha
Blackburn Buccaneer
Blackburn Firebrand
Blackburn Firecrest
Blackburn Roc
Blackburn Shark
Blackburn Skua
Blohm & Voss 138
Blohm & Voss 141B
Blohm & Voss 222 Wiking
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Boeing Vertol Chinook
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul P.108
Boulton Paul Sea Balliol
Brantly B-2
Breguet Alizé
Breguet Atlantic
Brewster Buffalo
Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufort
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Bombay
Bristol Brigand
Bristol Britannia
Bristol Buckingham
Bristol Bulldog
Bristol Freighter
Bristol Sycamore
Britten-Norman Islander
Bücker Bestmann
Bücker Jungmann
Bücker Jungmeister
Bücker Student
Cant Z1007
Caproni Ca.309
Caproni Ca.311
Caproni Ca.135
Cessna 150
Cessna Cardinal
Cessna Skymaster
Cessna Skywagon
Chance-Vought Corsair
Chance-Vought Cutlass
Chilton D.W.1
Chrislea Ace
Comper Swift
Consolidated Catalina
Consolidated Liberator
Consolidated Vultee Privateer
Convair 240-5
Curtiss Commando
Curtiss Helldiver
Curtiss Kittyhawk
Curtiss Mohawk
Curtiss Seamew
Curtiss Tomahawk
Dassault Étendard
Dassault Mirage
Dassault Mystère
de Havilland 86B
de Havilland Beaver
de Havilland Chipmunk
de Havilland Comet
de Havilland Devon
de Havilland Don
de Havilland Flamingo
de Havilland Fox Moth
de Havilland Gipsy Moth
de Havilland Heron
de Havilland Hornet Moth
de Havilland Mosquito
de Havilland Otter
de Havilland Puss Moth
de Havilland Rapide
de Havilland Sea Hornet
de Havilland Sea Mosquito
de Havilland Sea Vampire
de Havilland Sea Venom
de Havilland Sea Vixen
de Havilland Swallow
de Havilland Tiger Moth
de Havilland Vampire
Dewoitine 520
DFS 230
DFS Kranich
DFS Weihe
Dornier 17
Dornier 18
Dornier 24
Dornier 26
Dornier 27
Dornier 217
Dornier 335 - Pfeil
Douglas Boston
Douglas Dakota
Douglas Dauntless
Douglas Devastator
Douglas Invader
Douglas Skymaster
Douglas Skyknight
Douglas Skyraider
Druine Turbulent
Elliot Newbury Eon
Embraer Bandeirante
English Electric Canberra
Enstrom F28
Enstrom Shark
Erco Ercoupe
Fairchild Argus
Fairchild Cornell
Fairchild XNQ-1
Fairey IIIF
Fairey Albacore
Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Battle
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Fulmar
Fairey Gannet
Fairey Gordon
Fairey Primer
Fairey Spearfish
Fairey Swordfish
Fiat B.R.20
Fiat C.32
Fiat C.42
Fiat G.50
Fieseler Storch
Focke-Wulf 189 - Uhu
Focke-Wulf 190
Focke-Wulf 200 - Condor
Focke-Wulf 58 Weihe
Focke-Wulf Ta.152
Focke-Wulf Ta.154 - Moskito
Folland 43/37
Fouga Magister
Fournier Milan
General Aircraft Cygnet
General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Hotspur
General Aircraft L/56
Gloster E.28/39
Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Javelin
Gloster Meteor
Gloster Sea Meteor
Gotha 244
Grumman Ag-Cat
Grumman Albatross
Grumman Avenger
Grumman Bearcat
Grumman Cougar
Grumman Goose
Grumman Guardian
Grumman Hellcat
Grumman Panther
Grumman Tigercat
Grumman Widgeon
Grumman Wildcat
Handley Page Gugnunc
Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Hampden
Handley Page Hastings
Handley Page Hermes
Handley Page Marathon
Handley Page Sparrow
Hawker Fury - biplane
Hawker Hart
Hawker Hector
Hawker Henley
Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Nimrod
Hawker Osprey
Hawker P.1040
Hawker P.1052
Hawker P.1127 - VTOL
Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Hawk
Hawker Siddeley 748
Hawker Siddeley Gnat
Hawker Tempest
Hawker Typhoon
Heinkel 111
Heinkel 115
Heinkel 162 - Volksjäger
Heinkel 177 - Greif
Heinkel 219 - Uhu
Henschel 123
Henschel 129
Heston Phoenix
Hiller HTE
Hitachi T.2
Horten IV
Hughes 300
Hughes 500
Hunting Percival Jet Provost
Hunting Percival Provost
Ilyushin 2 - Shturmovik
Ilyushin 4
Jodel Ambassadour
Jodel Club
Jodel Excellence
Jodel Grand Tourisme
Jodel Mascaret
Jodel Mousqetaire
Junkers 52
Junkers 86
Junkers 87 - Stuka
Junkers 188
Junkers 290
Junkers 352
Junkers 388
Kamov 26
Kawasaki Tony
Klemm 26
Klemm 35D
Klemm L25
Klemm L27
Lavochkin 7
Le Vier Cosmic Wind
Ling Temco Vought Crusader
Lockheed Constellation
Lockheed Electra
Lockheed Hercules
Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Lightning
Lockheed Neptune
Lockheed Shooting Star
Lockheed Starfighter
Lockheed Ventura
Luton Minor
Macchi C.202
Macchi C.205
Martin Baker M.B.5
Martin Baltimore
Martin Marauder
MBB Bo 105
McDonnell Banshee
McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk
McDonnell Phantom II
Messerschmitt 108 - Taifun
Messerschmitt 109
Messerschmitt 110
Messerschmitt 163 - Komet
Messerschmitt 262
Messerschmitt 410 - Hornisse
MIG-3
MIG-15
Mil-1
Mil-2
Mil-4
Miles 18
Miles 20
Miles 28
Miles 38
Miles 48
Miles Aerovan
Miles Falcon
Miles Gemini
Miles Hawk
Miles Hobby
Miles Libellula
Miles Magister
Miles Martinet
Miles Master
Miles Mentor
Miles Mohawk
Miles Monarch
Miles Monitor
Miles Sparrowhawk
Mitsubishi Betty
Mitsubishi Dinah
Mitsubishi Zeke - Zero
Mooney M20
Morane-Saulnier 406
Morane-Saulnier Paris
Morane-Saulnier Rallye
Muntz Youngman-Baynes
N.S.F.K. S.G.38
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank)
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar)
Nipper III
Noorduyn Norseman
Nord 262A
Nord Noralpha
Nord Pingouin
North American Harvard
North American Mitchell
North American Mustang
North American Sabre
North American Savage
North American Super Sabre
North American Texan
Northrop Gamma Commercial
Northrop Black Widow
Northrop F-5
Orlikan Meta Sokol
Percival Gull
Percival Pembroke
Percival Prentice
Percival Proctor
Percival Q6
Percival Vega Gull
Petlyakov PE-2
Piaggio P.136
Piaggio P.166
Piasecki Retriever
Piel Emeraude
Pilatus Porter
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Piper Comanche
Piper Cub
Piper Cub Special 90
Piper Grasshopper
Piper Navajo
Piper Pawnee
Piper Seneca
Piper Supercruiser
Piper Tripacer
Piper Cherokee
Pitts Special
Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-16
Portsmouth Aerocar Major
Reggiane 2000
Reggiane 2001
Reid & Sigrist Desford
Republic Seabee
Republic Lancer
Republic Thunderbolt
Republic Thunderjet
Republic Thunderstreak
Robin Royale
Robinson R-22
Rollason Condor
Ryan Fireball
Saab 21
Saab 29
Saab 105
Saab Lansen
Saab Safir
Saunders-Roe P.531
Saunders-Roe Skeeter
Saunders-Roe S.R./A.1
Savoia Marchetti SM79 - Sparviero
Savoia Marchetti SM82
Savoia Marchetti SM95
Scheibe Motorspatz
Schmetz Olympia-Meise
Schneider Baby Grunau
Scottish Aviation Bulldog
Scottish Aviation Pioneer
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
Short S.31
Short Sealand
Short Skyvan
Short Stirling
Short Sturgeon
SIAI-Marchetti S.F.260
Siebel Si 204
Sikorsky HRS
Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly
Sikorsky R-6A Hoverfly II
Sikorsky S-58T
Sikorsky S-61
Sikorsky S-76
Sipa S.903
Slingsby Capstan
Slingsby Kirby Cadet
Slingsby Motor Tutor
Slingsby Prefect
Slingsby Swallow
Slingsby T.21
Slingsby T.31
Socata Diplomate
Stampe et Vertongen SV-4
Stearman Caydet - (sic)
Stinson Junior R
Stinson Reliant
Stinson Sentinel
Sud-Aviation Djinn
Supermarine Attacker
Supermarine S.24/37 DUMBO
Supermarine Scimitar
Supermarine Sea Otter
Supermarine Seafang
Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seagull
Supermarine Spiteful
Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Walrus
SZD Bocian
Taylorcraft Auster
Taylor J.T.1 Monoplane
Taylor J.T.2 Titch
Thruxton Jackaroo
Tipsy S.2
Tipsy Trainer
Tipsy Type B
Vertol 107
Vickers Valiant
Vickers Vanguard
Vickers VC10
Vickers Viking
Vickers Viscount
Vickers Warwick
Vickers Wellington (Wellington VI)
Vickers Windsor
Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake
Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher
Vultee Vengeance
Waco CG-3
Waco Hadrian
Westland Aérospatiale Gazelle
Westland Aerospatiale Lynx
Westland Lysander
Westland Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly
Westland Sikorsky S-55 Whirlwind
Westland Wasp
Westland Welkin
Westland Wessex
Westland Whirlwind
Westland Wyvern (Eagle engine)
Winter Zaunkönig - Wren
Yakovlev-1
Yakovlev-9
Yakovlev-11
Youngman-Baynes High Lift
Zlin Akrobat

[Wander00]

That is some record. had the pleasure of meeting him at Duxford, an outstanding gentle man

[kintyred]

Wot no Gazelle? He hasn't lived!

[wub]

Westland Aerospatiale Gazelle, 16th from bottom. He HAS lived :)

[kintyred]

Westland? Since when? I remember the garage door handle at my parents house coming off in my hand when I was a boy....if I'd have known that the same manufacturer would play a part in making my aircraft I might have chosen a different career!

[Rossian]

.....I thought it was a curiously "unsatisfying" programme with too many whizzy graphics and pregnant pauses and somehow missing the man himself. Hmmmmmm!

The Ancient Mariner

[JFZ90]

Very good, and very well done.

If you made up a story of all the things he's done, people would say it was unbelievable. It was built up nicely by the programme I thought.

A bit more on the different and more exotic types - and maybe a bit more on the post war test flying - would be good, but everything there deserved its place and was very interesting.

Anyone know what his car in Munich was? Amazing times.

[smujsmith]

Well made programme,

Some nice historical footage and a nice narrative from the man himself. Having read the book, I think he's definitely a British Flying Hero, despite that dark blue uniform.

Smudge :=

[Tankertrashnav]

I am reminded of the story about Montgomery inspecting troops and stopping in front of a man who had a single ribbon, the Territorial Efficiency Medal. Monty said to him "You are the only man on this parade who has a medal I haven't got!" I have a total of two aircraft in my logbook as PIC - Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 - neither of which figure in Captain Brown's list!

Seriously - fantastically interesting man - he has probably forgotten more about aviation than I will ever know.

Respect!

[P6 Driver]

MG Magnette - according to the book "Wings on my Sleeve".

Apart from some camera techniques I'm not fond of, I thought it was a very interesting programme but in an hour, it could only skim over a few of his accomplishments. A true gentleman in my book.

Some years back, the flying log books of Stanford-Tuck were made into a facsimile copy and sold by (I believe) the RAF Museum. Now if the logs of Captain Brown were given this treatment, I would happily pay a decent sum for a copy.

[FODPlod]

An excellent programme. As ever, I am simply lost in admiration of him.

[Dengue_Dude]

What a lovely, modest man. I had no idea what he'd been through prior to this documentary. I just thought he was a guy that had flown a lot of types! There was so much more.

BBC at their best.

Thanks for the steer.

[turbroprop]

Mega respect. What a life not just flying, but all the other stuff.

Programme only skimmed over the surface.

Why no knighthood? I can not think of anyone more worthy.

[AndoniP]

Anyone know what his car in Munich was?

From Wikipedia:

In the meantime, Brown had been selected to take part as an exchange student at the Salem International College, located on the banks of Lake Constance, and it was while there in Germany that Brown was woken up with a loud knocking on his door one morning in September 1939. Upon opening the door he was met by a woman with the announcement that "our countries are at war". Soon after, Brown was arrested by the SS. Fortunately, they merely escorted Brown in his MG Magnette sports car to the Swiss border, saying they were allowing him to keep the car because they "had no spares for it".

[Mick Strigg]

My only complaint is that this programme just skimmed the surface as there is enough material on this man for a series rather than a one-off.

Come on BBC, commission a series!

And come on David Cameron; give this man a Knighthood!

[CoffmanStarter]

I enjoyed the Programme. Great respect for the man :D

It did amuse me at the beginning of the Programme when the presenter/narrator referenced the fact that Eric Brown was a Royal Navy Test Pilot ... but then showed on two occasions a picture of him in RAF uniform ... :)

This pic in fact ...

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/ScreenShot2014-06-02at082034_zpseb9f0139.png

Image Credit : Flyoperativt Forum del 2 (http://www.nfo.no/Tidligere_artikler/2012/21_21.05_Flyoperativt_Forum2.html)

This image was also shown on the Programme ...

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02924/ericbrownjpg_2924187b.jpg

... I thought RN Wings were worn on the uniform sleeve :8

[Mick Strigg]

Coff, he joined the FAA when it was the "Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force", before the Admiralty wrestled it back under their control and put members of the FAA back into the proper coloured uniform.

When wearing Battle Dress, the rank is worn on the shoulders rather than the sleeve, therefore the Wings are worn on the chest as there is no rank for the Wings to sit above on the sleeve.

[seadrills]

I was expecting interviews from many of his friends and colleagues explaining what a fab bloke he was ..... And yet, there was something sadly missing.

[Tankertrashnav]

Mick -thanks for the info about the RAF uniform pic and the FAA wings - I was wondering about both points :ok:

[CoffmanStarter]

Many thanks also Mick :ok:

Coff.

[Onceapilot]

Good, but still a lightweight programme somehow? Surely, he must have declined further honours?

OAP

[Chugalug2]

An amazing story about an amazing man. Very glad that I caught it.

One thing intrigued though, that he took Goering's claim that the Battle of Britain was a draw, and would have been a Luftwaffe victory had not Hitler wanted his airfleets for Barbarossa. I found this strange coming from an airman (Brown, not Goering).

Surely the job of the Luftwaffe was to achieve Air Superiority on behalf of the Kreigsmarine for its invasion fleet? It failed to do so and the invasion was postponed indefinitely, which is why the RAF (including some attached FAA pilots) celebrates a victory to this day.

Goering failed in this as he did in so much. I was surprised that Brown took his side, ...or was it the RN side that he took?

[Not_a_boffin]

I think you'll find that he agreed with the relative loss figures in the late stages of the battle that Goering quoted, which - if true - might have indicated less of a clear-cut victory than we often assume.

That's not the same as claiming a draw and certainly not suggesting some sort of alternate RN agenda.

[goudie]

Goering would never have conceded that the B of B was an outright victory for the the RAF, neither could he claim a victory for the Luftwaffe, so claiming it was a draw, was perhaps, a face saving alternative.

[Treble one]

I think the final figures were around 1800 aircraft lost by the Luftwaffe and 1100 by the RAF, so if you look at simple figures.....

Of course Goering's 'draw' may be a reflection of the realisation of the horrific tactical mistakes he made during those months...

BTW I thought Capt Brown was initially a RAFVR officer, hence the picture of him in light blue. His switch to the RN was due to the RN needing pilots at the time and apparently the RAF not?

What a fantastic man, and it remains a mystery why he has never had more honours than he has, considering what some get them for these days.

[Timelord]

I have heard Capt Brown speak, and he not only quoted Goering's opinion that the B of B was a draw, but clearly stated that he agreed with him. I thought it was a bit strange given that the occasion was a Battle of Britain Dinner in an RAF Officers' Mess.

[blaireau]

I have an excellent book, "War Prizes", signed by Eric Brown. The author is Phil Butler and it is a Midland Counties Publication.

It is very well illustrated and covers all of the axis aircraft captured and tested both during, and immediately after WW2.

[Hempy]

Of course Goering's 'draw' may be a reflection of the realisation of the horrific tactical mistakes he made during those months...

If you take own goals out of it, the Luftwaffe should have won 3-1! imo a reasonable conclusion, taking relevant national pride out of it, would be GBR 3 - GER 3 with GBR winning 4-2 on penalties.

[Chugalug2]

Aren't we in danger of basing our judgements on Goering's premiss, that predicted relative loss rates were the determinant? The RAF's fight was a fight for survival, it survived. The Luftwaffe's fight was to achieve Air Superiority, if not Air Supremacy, it didn't.

What it did achieve was to lose so many aircraft, and more damagingly so many aircrew, that its real fight for survival on the Eastern Front was fatally compromised. On both counts the Luftwaffe lost (0-1).

[Spaghetti_Monster]

SeaDrills - The guy is 95 years old. How many surviving friends and colleagues do you suppose he has?

[Martin the Martian]

Very enjoyable programme, though as I've read 'Wings On My Sleeve' I don't think there was anything new. I have met Captain Brown when I bought the book, which he was kind enough to sign, and he is a true gent.

Anyone else think that if the Miles M.52 had not been cancelled he would have have been assigned the job of taking it through the sound barrier? I think he was the only Brit to fly the Me 163, so I'm sure he would have been.

[John Farley]

Chug

I take your points, but I feel the issue is that if the Luftwaffe had not abruptly called off the BoB when they did (because of H wanting the Russian front) then things could easily have finished up with many of our airfields being inop resulting in a a very different result.

That is what it seemed to me the programme suggested was behind Goering's remark and Eric's agreement. Living as I did at Hastings under the BoB I have no trouble believing the Luftwaffe stopped rather than were beaten.

That said I fully accept that if the RAF had not performed as well as they did it would have been all over for us in the air about 2/3 the way though the BoB period.

JF

[SpringHeeledJack]

The 1 hour programme was too short to do his career justice, but what with the dumbed down offerings these days, I'm grateful that it was on at all. Just a couple of the 'events' that he experienced would do for most, but his incredible, almost Forrest Gump like life had them in spades and he's still looking and sounding damned good for almost 100 not out.

[Chugalug2]

Lots of ifs there John, but I take your main point that the Luftwaffe withdrew rather than being simply defeated, but in doing so they conceded the field and hence the game. Hence our victory. Think of all the other ifs;
Dunkirk if Hitler had not stopped the panzers.
D-Day if Hitler had not stopped the panzers!
Kursk if Stalin had again rejected our warnings.
Bismark if that lucky hit on the rudder had missed its mark.
Tirpitz if that lucky hit at the bow had missed its mark.
Such are the fortunes of war. If ifs and buts...It's just that there seems to me to be an open season on the RAF of WW2, be it in Kent, Berlin or Arnhem. Only the Brits can turn triumph into defeat if the internecine warfare is bitter enough. So much water, so many bridges...

[Wander00]

As Napoleon said - something like, don't tell me how good a general he is,"Give me lucky generals," aware that "luck" comes to leaders who recognize opportunity, and seize it

[gpugh]

Hi Spag. Monster, my father is one, he is 90 this year and still going strong, not had contact with each other for many years but were quite good friends at one time , so I expect there a few around still

[topgas]

Re the RAF uniform, according to Wikipedia he learnt to fly in 1937 in Edinburgh with the university Air Unit and I assumed the photo was from that era. It also says that on his return from Germany he joined the RNVR as a FAA pilot. I can't find my copy of Wings on My Sleeve to check

[WE Branch Fanatic]

topgas

You are correct. Hence the picture of him in Square Rig (presumably at HMS St Vincent).

[AtomKraft]

The BoB WAS a draw.

The defenders were not overrun,

The attackers were not defeated..

Brown is a clever chap. Better to listen and learn, than to argue.

[GeeRam]

The BoB WAS a draw.

The defenders were not overrun,

The attackers were not defeated..

That's certainley a German view.

It also has to be remembered that both sides have a different view on what is defined as the Battle of Britain.

Our usual defined timeframe is from Jul 10th to Oct 31st whereas the Germans have always taken it to be from Aldertag on Aug 13th to the last mass nightime raid on the UK on 21st May 1941 prior to the withdraw of the majority of the Luftwaffe bomber groups to move East for the invasion of Russia.

[NutLoose]

On I player now :)

[Wander00]

May 41 was when Pere W was on his fire appliance in the City of London trying to put out the fires. The week before he was at the destruction of City Temple on the same crew as Ernest Lough, who as a boy had recorded "Oh For The Wings of a Dove" there

[Chugalug2]

AtomKraft:-
Better to listen and learn, than to argue. Nobody here arguing, AK, simply having a discussion. Care to join in? Not much of an outlook for PPRuNe otherwise.The BoB WAS a draw.

The defenders were not overrun,

The attackers were not defeated..You don't happen to work in education by any chance, where there are no winners or losers? Mind you, it would have made a useful PS for Eisenhower to add to the letter he carried around on June 6th 1944. 'AL1; for The BoB insert D-Day'
Brown is a clever chapAh, there at least we are in violent agreement when discussing Captain E. M. Brown, RN, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS!

[SpazSinbad]

Being in Oz it seems the 'iPlayer' download function is not available including watching online. Perhaps this doco will be shown on Oz ABC/SBS TV at some point? Anyhoo....

Britain's Greatest Pilot Eric "Winkle" Brown

BBC iPlayer - Britain's Greatest Pilot: The Extraordinary Story of Captain Winkle Brown (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b045pbq2/britains-greatest-pilot-the-extraordinary-story-of-captain-winkle-brown)
"Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown, 95, recounts his flying experiences and adventures up to and during the Second World War in this documentary illustrated with archive footage."

BBC iPlayer Downloads:
BBC iPlayer - Install BBC iPlayer Downloads (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/install) (Win8 - 20mb)

[NutLoose]

Spaz download and install the free trial of unblockus

Unblock-Us - smarter faster VPN (http://www.unblock-us.com/)

I have it set up on my iPad and TV, although I subscribe, there is a free month trial, it fools the channels into believing you are in the UK.... US etc

I have used it for over six months as I run Netflix USA through my smart TV, you get a lot more films and Series on the US version.... It's supposedly good for Iplayer too, so you will be able to use the free trial to watch it.

[dragartist]

Extraordinary character. I enjoyed the programme, even the 3D graphics in the photo album that has been criticised above. Not sure what people expect in an hour. To hear all his interesting stories could (or should IMHO) replace both East Enders and Coronation street for a year or two. His account of Miles 52 would be a feature length film.


I do hope I get another opportunity to hear him speak and have supper with him again


Drag

[Vitesse]

This should have been must-see TV for me.

Instead I was irritated by the graphics and stock film of wrong types that sort-of fit the narrative and also by the glossing-over due to the one-hour format.

Such a shame that a fascinating story and gentleman such as Cpt. Brown could not wholly keep my attention. I did watch to the end, out of respect.

For me the retelling of such exploits needs more depth (why not a series?). It's okay putting things in general context but for expoits of genuine historical significance more detail is needed. These chaps wont be around much longer and the opportunities should be taken. I suppose I should read his books!

[SpazSinbad]

A forum member kindly sent this info:

Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown. Short Extracts from DVD

"Uploaded on May 28, 2011
These are short extracts from a 1 hour 42 minute DVD interview with Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown which can be found at: www.deltaveemedia.co.uk (http://www.deltaveemedia.co.uk)


Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown. Short Extracts from DVD - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmY-YUWGKWY&%29=&app=desktop)

[langleybaston]

apart from the man and his achievements, a spotters treat of a programme: , I kept my wife awake with squeaks of pleasure as each type flashed up on the screen. Lost count.

[david parry]

He phoned the Fire Station on the camp at three in the morning and asked why there was one of our fire engines outside woollies in Elgin. He`d nicked it and parked it there. The Killick of the crew got an interview without coffee for not locking the gates............... which were never locked. MDA Air station.:rolleyes:

[huey]

Just watched it over here in Oz. Fantastic show.

[oldmansquipper]

IMHO - The programme was quite good, but couldn't possibly do justice to such a great aviator. That needs a complete series.

As an aside, My late brother was OCAero Flt, RAE Bedford (One of `Winkles` posts) in the 60s and always talked of him with tremendous respect. I had the honour of meeting him at Middle Wallop earlier this year. Quite a remarkable man and aviator supreme.

[papajuliet]

Having [ I think ] read every book written by him. I don't think a 1hr. programme can possibly do justice to an incredible pilot.

[Tashengurt]

Just watched it on I player. I did get a bit frustrated as it just seemed to dance across the hilights with little detail but as just abour everyone's said, that was the only way to cover such a career in an hour. That's why I've read his book so many times. I do sometimes wish I'd been born a couple of decades earlier!


Posted from Pprune.org App for Android

[Flying Lawyer]

If you get an opportunity to hear Captain Brown giving a talk, don't miss it.

He gave the (then) Guild of Air Pilots' annual Cobham Lecture in 2007 and kept the audience of about 240 enthralled for what turned out to be 1½ hours - but I doubt if anyone noticed time passing. One of the most interesting lectures I've ever heard.
Only later did it sink in that the elderly gentleman describing events was relating things he'd seen and done by the age of 26!

He received the prestigious Award of Honour in 2006.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/FlyingLawyer/Winkle_ps.jpg
Lord Stevens, Captain Brown, Capt Jock Lowe

In 2006, exceptionally, there were two recipients: Thread here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=249880)


There's an interesting interview by journalist/pilot Pat Malone (https://www.airpilots.org/about-the-company/trophies-and-awards/award-winners/the-award-for-aviation-journalism/) here: Profile: Captain E M Brown CBE AFC DFC FRAeS RN (https://www.airpilots.org/ruth-documents/guild-news/GUILD%20NEWS%20June%2009%20pt1.pdf)
See page 9 of the link.

I had another opportunity to hear Captain Brown speaking when he was guest of honour at the annual McKenna Dinner at ETPS Boscombe Down last December. An after dinner speech rather than a lecture but, again, he was excellent.

FL

[k3k3]

The programme is on again on BBC2 in about 15 minutes.

[unmanned_droid]

I caught it. So glad I did.

If this chap said the grass was blue and the sky was green, I'd happily go along with it.

I enjoyed the flashes from his log book. Me-163 one day and then the Me-109T the next (that must have been somewhat boring in comparison!).

I do like the Me-262. A view formed before I'd even heard of Eric. however, I wonder what he'd have thought if he was having to fly one on the approach to an airfield under attack from a squadron of P-47s or P-51s. I reckon he'd have found a few more faults with it then!

[teeteringhead]

Battle of Britain a draw!!!

Can't possibly have been .......

......... cos then surely the Luftwaffe would have won on penalties! ;)

...hat ... coat ...etc

[NutLoose]

Yep that was when they were vunerable, landing and take off, hence the use of the FW190 Dora's, marked up with the red and white underside banding, to protect the airfields during 262 operations :)


Some Fw-190D's served as fighter cover for Me 262 airfields, as the jet fighters were very vulnerable on takeoff and landing. These units were known as Platzsicherungstaffel (airfield defense squadrons). One unit in particular was created by Leuntnant Heinz Sachsenberg at the behest of General Adolf Galland, and had the entire aircraft underside painted in narrow white, and broad red, stripes. The unique colour scheme helped anti-aircraft artillery protecting the airfields quickly identify friendly aircraft, and may have been based on the D-Day invasion stripes used by the Allied air forces. The unit, known as "Würger-Staffel", guarded the airfield of Jagdverband 44 from March 1945 to May 1945, and was used only to defend landing Me 262s, and as such, was prohibited from chasing Allied aircraft. This paper model depicts the aircraft of Hauptmann (Captain) Klaus Faber of the JV-44 Würger-Staffel in April, 1945.


http://www.combatreform.org/FW190andME262songrassyfield.jpg



from
1/50 Focke Wulf Fw-190D-9 Paper Model (http://www.ecardmodels.com/index.php/1-50-focke-wulf-fw-190d-9.html)
and
Fighters-IN-A-Box (FINAB): no more fixed bases and runways (http://www.combatreform.org/USARMYAVIATIONDIGEST/fighterinabox.htm?201430)

[Dusty_B]

The programme was as good as an hour programme is going to get, and had some wonderful cinematography.

I think interest in EB at the BBC probably came about following an iPM programme a few months ago, in which a member of the public had suggested they interview him for their off-beat Sunday show.

I think the producers and interviewers got more than they bargained for. Make a cup of coco, fluff up your favorite armchair cushion, close the doors, sit back and listen to this:

BBC Radio 4 - iPM, 20/04/2013 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rw940)

[unmanned_droid]

Nutloose, indeed. Papagei Staffel were really needed to protect Me-262s back then. Fighter groups were allowed to roam at low level and attack all targets of opportunity. And they did so with much gusto (as they should...). Frankly, the 262s and other jet aircraft were sitting ducks on the approach. But then I guess so are all other aircraft. The near total superiority of the air and the few numbers of what must have been a very expensive aircraft in terms of materials and technology made protection of those assets seem a very worthwhile task - to those not in the protection flights!

I think the Germans were getting a little fatalistic by then. Sachsenbergs D9 had the inscription "Sell my kit (or clothes...), I'm going to Heaven". Note no exclamation mark.

Anyway, not to detract, I saw that Eric had logbook entries for a 190D9 too - of course!

[Thomas coupling]

I didn't realise one human being could achieve so much in such a short period. If he knew then, what he knows now........
What a superb and iconic individual. A shining jewel in a society that has perhaps become a little jaded since those days?

Respect.

[SpazSinbad]

Britains Greatest Pilot - The Story of Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown Published on Jun 26, 2014
"Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown recounts his flying experiences, encounters with the Nazis and other adventures leading up to and during the Second World War. Illustrated with archive footage and Captain Brown's own photos."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi45UWBj2Ug

[Shack37]

Another heads up

This program is repeated tonight on BBC2 at 1900.

[Tankertrashnav]

Cheers Shack - I'm off to St Mawgan tonight to give a talk on AAR so Ive got it set to record :ok:

[Shack37]

Cheers Shack - I'm off to St Mawgan tonight to give a talk on AAR so Ive got
it set to record :ok:


Hope you don´t have to trog up the hill. Knackered me when I was only 18:ooh: