Eric Brown (pilot)
Eric Brown | |
|---|---|
Brown as a lieutenant RNVR, c. 1939-45 | |
| Nickname(s) | Winkle |
| Born | 21 January 1920 Hackney, London, England |
| Died | 21 February 2016 (aged 96) Redhill, Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1939–1970 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross Air Force Cross King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
| Other work |
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Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS (21 January 1920 – 21 February 2016) was a British Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history.
Brown held the world record for the most aircraft carrier deck take-offs and landings performed (2,407 and 2,271 respectively) and 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, a jet aircraft, and a rotary-wing aircraft.
Brown flew almost every category of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft: glider, fighter, bomber, airliner, amphibian, flying boat and helicopter. During the Second World War, he flew many types of captured German, Italian, and Japanese aircraft, including new jet and rocket aircraft. He was a pioneer of jet technology into the postwar era.
Eric Brown married Evelyn (Lynn) Macrory in 1942; she predeceased him in 1998 and he was survived by their son, and his companion Jean who would ‘come on visits’ with him.