Eric 'Winkle' Brown: Celebrated British pilot dies, aged 97

half time scores · Feb 21, 2016

One of the most famous British pilots, Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown, has died at the age of 97.

He was the Royal Navy's most decorated pilot and held the world record for flying the greatest number of different types of aircraft, 487.

During World War Two Capt Brown flew fighter aircraft and witnessed the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp.

He died at the East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, 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."

RIP to a true hero.

Frutos · Feb 21, 2016

- 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

Not a bad innings at all. :salute:

Triggaaar · Feb 21, 2016

Rest in peace :bowdown:

Gumbo · Feb 21, 2016

There was a programme about him on tv some time ago, remarkable man who could fly any aircraft including some of the captured Luftwaffe jet planes.
hopefully will be shown again soon..

Gumbo · Feb 21, 2016

I thought he only ever crashed once but maybe im wrong..

Cowfold Seagull · Feb 21, 2016

Gumbo said:
There was a programme about him on tv some time ago, remarkable man who could fly any aircraft including some of the captured Luftwaffe jet planes.
hopefully will be shown again soon..

Yes, I remember it well, made for facinating viewing.

lawros left foot · Feb 21, 2016

A truly Great Briton, didnt the American pilot who tried to break his flightdeck landing record, stop because of mental stress, or something similar?

LlcoolJ · Feb 21, 2016

A total hero. RIP.

Shropshire Seagull · Feb 21, 2016

Is this the sort of achievement that genuinely warrants to title of legend?

What a life !

essbee · Feb 21, 2016

Incredible life.

crookie · Feb 21, 2016

What an amazing record of achievement, RIP

glasfryn · Feb 21, 2016

RIP Eric and thankyou

osgood · Feb 22, 2016

What an amazing man

RIP Winkle

vegster · Feb 22, 2016

RIP Eric.. You had a marvellous life and beat so many odds.

Prince Monolulu · Feb 22, 2016

Well played Sir, and thank you. :salute:

RIP.

Seagull58 · Feb 22, 2016

This is a man for whom the word awesome truly applies. I am in awe of his achievements. RIP

Surrey Seagull · Feb 22, 2016

Records which will stand forever. RIP Eric

Norman Potting · Feb 22, 2016

For those interested in such things, from an earlier period but also in the field of naval aviation, this gent had an interesting and hazardous life, picking up a VC in the process http://bit.ly/1SMjwNF . His biog. is well worth a read and there are plenty of copies on Amazon. There is also a Sussex connection as he spent some of his early years in Rotherfield.

I will be rereading both this and "Winkle" Browns biogs. shortly, both members of the "..they don't breed them like that anymore..." club.

Saladpack Seagull · Feb 22, 2016

Frutos said:
- 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

Not a bad innings at all.

Thanks for that info, Frutos. I didn't know of his involvement with debriefing Kramer (last Kommandant of Belsen). This interests me because my old German teacher, Capt. W Bennett RAEC (Retd) was also one of the interrogators and had a photograph of himself with Kramer. This horrible individual was hanged (by Albert Pierrepoint) and thus was granted a more humane death than that which he afforded his victims. Sad that our great wartime generation is fading away quite fast now; our debt to "Winkle" and his comrades-in-arms is incalculable. Thank you and RIP. :bowdown:

The Stout Yeoman · Feb 22, 2016

Norman Potting said:
For those interested in such things, from an earlier period but also in the field of naval aviation, this gent had an interesting and hazardous life, picking up a VC in the process http://bit.ly/1SMjwNF . His biog. is well worth a read and there are plenty of copies on Amazon. There is also a Sussex connection as he spent some of his early years in Rotherfield.

I will be rereading both this and "Winkle" Browns biogs. shortly, both members of the "..they don't breed them like that anymore..." club.

Wings on my sleeve is one of the books in question ...the Sussex connection continued past Rotherfield .. Winkle lived for many many years at Domewood (which is located between Copthorne and East Grinstead) a good friend of mine had the fortune to "sketch" Winkle at his home the results can be found on the GAVA website http://www.gava.org.uk/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=12&Itemid=534&picsearch=simple&searchterm=conrad%20lowen&=Go

See Mr Fleet Air Arm

RIP Winkle

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