16 Sep 20, 2100, BBC4, “Winkle” Brown.
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16 Sep 20, 2100, BBC4, “Winkle” Brown.
“Winkle” Brown documentary ... is this a repeat?
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Yep it was. A test pilot with strange aircraft from foreign lands and strange instructions and he still walked away from them all with 487 different aircraft under his belt. Well done Sir
For those who haven't already had the pleasure, his autobiography is a cracking read.
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An extraordinary career, but sadly the most disjointed and uninformative documentary from the BBC ... he deserved much better.
I reverted to Wikipedia this morning to get some explanation of how/why he was at Belsen and interviewing Goering, for example.
I reverted to Wikipedia this morning to get some explanation of how/why he was at Belsen and interviewing Goering, for example.
It was a great documentary. I'm still not clear why there was a photo of him in an RAF uniform but I'm sure I once read an explanation but for the life in me, can't remember why! Anyone know?
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My guess ...
Sadly typical of the low quality of the BBC's work in this instance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_(pilot)
On returning to a United Kingdom then at war, he joined the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve before subsequently joining the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a Fleet Air Arm pilot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_(pilot)
Wikipedia has it wrong as well.
In Wings on My Sleeve there is a picture of him taken after he got his RAF wings which he earned flying with the Edinburgh University Air Unit "under the auspices of 603 Royal Auxiliary Airforce Squadron'. He joined in his first year at University (1937). This was prior to his year in Germany which was part of his languages degree course. 'When I reported back to the RAFVR there was no rush for my services'. On being told the FAA had a desperate need for pilots he took less than five minutes to see the light.
He arrived at Yeovilton the day it opened, he and his colleagues flying off runways that were still under construction.
The 487 was types, many of which he flew multiple marks. A remarkable and truly unique pilot and gentleman - I always thought it criminal that he was never given honorary flag rank, his promotion to rear admiral having been denied by a combination of cuts and political shenanigans.
In Wings on My Sleeve there is a picture of him taken after he got his RAF wings which he earned flying with the Edinburgh University Air Unit "under the auspices of 603 Royal Auxiliary Airforce Squadron'. He joined in his first year at University (1937). This was prior to his year in Germany which was part of his languages degree course. 'When I reported back to the RAFVR there was no rush for my services'. On being told the FAA had a desperate need for pilots he took less than five minutes to see the light.
He arrived at Yeovilton the day it opened, he and his colleagues flying off runways that were still under construction.The 487 was types, many of which he flew multiple marks. A remarkable and truly unique pilot and gentleman - I always thought it criminal that he was never given honorary flag rank, his promotion to rear admiral having been denied by a combination of cuts and political shenanigans.
I had the privilege of hearing his lecture at the Cambridge branch of the R. Ae. S. some years ago. He was on his feet for 90 minutes without notes and received a standing ovation when he'd finished, although I feel he would have liked to continue. An amazing and modest man.
And he looped a Spitfire three times around the Forth Bridge, going though each of the spans in succession ..... and got away with it
because they thought it had to be an RAF pilot!!
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-s...82372628323512
because they thought it had to be an RAF pilot!!
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-s...82372628323512
Gentleman Aviator
Had the privilege of meeting him and sharing a glass or two of red once at a do at the RAF Museum.
Still amazed that a young chap (sic) like me could chat to someone who had spoken to Goering.....
Still amazed that a young chap (sic) like me could chat to someone who had spoken to Goering.....
Times could be really quite whacky as a young serviceman, back in the day. I also remember being amazed / blown away (maybe even awestruck ?) when, as a new junior pilot at my first 617 dining-in night in the 70s, I was sat almost opposite a white haired Mr Barnes Wallis . . and sat amongst us were 8 guys who actually flew on the raid. Truly Awesome
As I recall from his book, there was a great story of him flying to Gormanstown airbase in Ireland during the war to pick up a German aircraft (can't remember what type) that some German defectors had flown there. He arrived in British uniform and was nearly lynched (the nearby town of Balbriggan had been sacked by British forces during the Irish war of Independence, civilians murdered). When he changed into his civvies, everyone relaxed and he was taken for an almighty piss up. Said it was one of the most enjoyable nights of his life!
Last edited by Una Due Tfc; 21st Sep 2020 at 22:53.
