 | Home > Off Topic > RIP Eric "winkle" Brown |
 
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| Muddybigdog Member Since: 11 Apr 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 1047   
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Sad news that another true legend has died, Eric "winkle" Brown, one remarkable gent. Jumped ship to reliability - Mitsubishi L200
Puma 90 XS - Sold D3 - 2.7 S x2 (both Sold) Freelander 2 HSE - Sold Freelander 1 - Sold Disco 2 - Sold |
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21st Feb 2016 10:49pm |
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| gabe3105 Member Since: 25 May 2015 Location: Grimsby Posts: 237
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What an amazing life - one of only 2 survivors from HMS Audacity in WW2 when it got sunk by a U-boat. World record for most planes flown. World record for most carrier landings.
I saw a very good piece on him a few months back on TV - I think he conducted about 2,200 carrier landings during his role as a test pilot, which was a very dangerous task in his day. The US wanted one of their pilots to break his record so they got their best pilot on the job - after about 1,500 landings he suffered a nervous breakdown and couldn't continue! RIP |
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22nd Feb 2016 11:19am |
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| JR Member Since: 07 Dec 2012 Location: Auchtermuchty Posts: 532  
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Yes Gabe3105 is right, the American had a nervous breakdown! He also managed to deck land aircraft that many said couldn't land on a deck such as the de Havilland Mosquito! A very big plane for an aircraft carrier,,,
As for numbers of different aircraft flown, I think it was 450-500 including most of the captured aircraft during WW2, and helocopters too. We owe a very great deal to Eric Brown, he helped to change aviation as we know it for the better! |
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22nd Feb 2016 11:42am |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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R.I.P. A remarkable man and a true gentleman. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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22nd Feb 2016 11:53am |
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| RED-DOT Member Since: 29 Jun 2009 Location: stirling Posts: 2363
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What a man, what a life. He would be at my dinner party if it were possible. 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
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22nd Feb 2016 7:49pm |
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| London 52 Member Since: 21 Oct 2014 Location: Lincoln Posts: 312 
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Truly remarkable man and pilot. I listened to a radio interview with him a number of years ago as one of the first allied troops to enter the Belsen Concentration Camp.
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22nd Feb 2016 8:32pm |
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| Butchers Boy Member Since: 10 Jan 2016 Location: Essex Posts: 426 
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I just see a short peice on him on the news He survived 11 plane crashes, said it was all part of the job and he just got on with it!! Bet Heath and safety would have something to say about that these days!! What a lovely chap
 2010 Defender 90 HT
The longer I live..... The better I was! |
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22nd Feb 2016 8:36pm |
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| Pilgrimmick Member Since: 16 Nov 2015 Location: Highlands Posts: 582
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RIP to a great and humble man. 80" 1948
Lightweight V8 Bowler Tomcat 130 Station wagon 90 300tdi (Santana PS10 pick up) Range Rover L322 (Ful fat) |
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22nd Feb 2016 9:24pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nvgq1 Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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22nd Feb 2016 9:30pm |
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| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3411
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You can also watch the BBC documentary here on youtube:
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22nd Feb 2016 11:27pm |
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| integrale Member Since: 29 Oct 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 77 
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My late father was one of thousands of WW2 Fleet Air Arm Observers (navigators). I remain in awe of those young guys who used dead reckoning to calculate their position and return to a carrier that was usually miles away from their original fix. Radio silence compounded the ever present fear of plotting a "recipocal" I heard "Winkle" refer to the many aircraft and crews lost when returning to find the carrier gone and fuel exhausted. RAF crews had the relative luxury of being guided back to a large airfield. Alone in a deep blue sea. A very brave but modest generation, now sadly all but gone.
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23rd Feb 2016 12:28am |
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| IanW Member Since: 12 Jun 2011 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 172 
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Very good obit in today's Telegraph. One wife - livid
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23rd Feb 2016 6:56pm |
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