Eric Brown (pilot)
Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS, RN[1] (21 January 1919 – 21 February 2016) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer and test pilot. He flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history.[2]
| Eric Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown in December 1945 | |
| Birth name | Eric Melrose Brown |
| Nickname | Winkle |
| Born | 21 January 1919 Leith, Scotland |
| Died | 21 February 2016 (aged 97) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1939–1970 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
He also held the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and was the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot.[3] He achieved several "firsts" in naval aviation, including the first landings on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engined aircraft, an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage and a jet-propelled aircraft.
Eric Brown (pilot) Media
On 3 December 1945, Brown became the first pilot to land on and take off (pictured) from an aircraft carrier in a jet aircraft, when he flew a de Havilland Sea Vampire to HMS Ocean.
A 1941 image of HMS Audacity after her July 1941 conversion to an escort carrier; Brown served on her with 802 Squadron until the carrier was torpedoed in the Atlantic in December 1941
A Royal Air Force Hoverfly I of the type flown by Brown from Speke to Farnborough in 1945
The captured Heinkel He 177 A-5 variant in British markings flown by Brown at Farnborough in September 1944
The high-speed DH 108 VW120 that Brown flew. This aircraft later crashed, killing Brown's successor at the RAE, Sqn Ldr Stuart Muller-Rowland.
UK Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf device (bronze: 1920-1994).
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References
- ↑ Jones, Luke (14 November 2014). "Eric 'Winkle' Brown: The man who seemed not to notice danger". BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ Ailes, Emma (23 April 2013). "Captain 'Winkle' Brown: Is he the greatest pilot ever?". BBC News Scotland. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ↑ "Paisley University Library Special Collections – Putnam Aeronautical 1997". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
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