heads up, Eric brown on BBC 2
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.
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.
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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
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!
Weeeeeeel!....
.....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
The Ancient Mariner
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.
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.
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
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
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!
Seriously - fantastically interesting man - he has probably forgotten more about aviation than I will ever know.
Respect!
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[quoteAnyone know what his car in Munich was?][/quote]
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.
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.
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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.
BBC at their best.
Thanks for the steer.
Anyone know what his car in Munich was?
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".
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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!
Come on BBC, commission a series!
And come on David Cameron; give this man a Knighthood!
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I enjoyed the Programme. Great respect for the man 
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 ...
Image Credit : Flyoperativt Forum del 2
This image was also shown on the Programme ...
... I thought RN Wings were worn on the uniform sleeve
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 ...
Image Credit : Flyoperativt Forum del 2
This image was also shown on the Programme ...
... I thought RN Wings were worn on the uniform sleeve
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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.
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.
Last edited by Mick Strigg; 2nd Jun 2014 at 08:09.
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heads up, Eric brown on BBC 2
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.