Eric 'Winkle' Brown's Birthday Beer

I met Winkle a couple of years back when we co-presented at AAIB. After the gig we had a wander through the hangars and up to the CVR/FDR labs then we had a natter in the car park before he hopped into his car and left.
An absolutely charming gentleman and, as someone has already mentioned, living history. An absolute pleasure to have met him.

As it happens I contacted him only last week to write the following foreword to our soon to be launched website for the Barracuda project.

Here is news to stir all naval aviators, a Fairey Barracuda is to be restored to rise phoenix-like form the wrecks of others. The once prolific Barra – some 2,600 were built by the Fairey, Blackburn, Boulton Paul and Westland factories for the Fleet Air Arm, where the aircraft received a mixed reception. It was never a pleasing sight in flight, and a positive eyesore when in the landing configuration. However, to be fair to the Barra it was not all bad news, for although it did not perform at all well in the torpedo-dropping role, it could lay claim to being an effective dive-bomber. Most indisputable of all, it was the easiest aeroplane to land on an aircraft carrier, and so with the help of rocket assistance, for take-off. It was able to operate from small carriers and give valuable anti-submarine protection to convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. All in all, a welcome will await this orphan of the storms when it finally re-appears as the only one of its type in the world.

Eric Brown takes the prize for the nicest refusal I had to an invite to talk to the RAeS branch I used to be secretary of. This a couple of years ago. He very politely declined my invitation, saying he’d recently been ill and his doctors had advised him to reduce his travelling. He said “I’ve agreed only to do six lectures this year, and they’re all booked already.” (Pause. Twinkle in the eye visible, even through the telephone.) “I haven’t told them the first one’s in New York…”
😉

Re 19

RAFRochford

Thanks Steve,

Found the book as you suggested.

I’ve been lucky enough to watch a lecture by Eric Brown. It’s wonderful to have shared, along with an appreciative RAeS audience, his memories.

Happy birthday, Eric 🙂

Missed hearing a talk he did at Lossie a few years ago, sadly. What a terrific life he’s led – not many made in his mould.
Happy birthday Winkle!

My first front line CO as a new naval airman from HMS Gamecock ? Is this he ?

He is indeed Barry, but at HMS Fulmar / Lossiemouth according to this, http://www.epnaao.com/BIOS_files/HONORARY/Brown-%20Eric%20M.pdf it gives a great summary of his naval career, just check out all his ‘firsts’!

Have to completely agree with the ‘living history’ comment earlier, and the posts here, I’ve never attended a talk by him but have always been in awe mainly of his galant naval service and British types testing careers.

He is a remarkable man and a true link to a bygone age of flight.

Ive had the great pleasure of sitting down with him in his home as he signed my prints of my drawing of the DH108 Swallow as i drank a glass of wine that he thrust into my hand. Beside crashing his Wildcat/Martlet upside down in the sea in front of Winston Churchil and many other adventures.

One of the lesser known facts about him is that before the war he use to ride motorcycles in a circus “on the wall of death”. There was a natty tatty old lion (a real one) that would sit in the side car and go round it as well. I found this out on asking him about the name on the front of his house which was circus related but im not going to mention it for obvious reasons.

A cracking freindly and warm gent who talks as you would expect a pilot to talk from that era. A true pleasure to have met him and one of my high`s in my life.

My drawing entitled “”Britain`s First””. Limited edition run
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Yes Dave, go to Youtube and search “Eric Brown pilot”, you will find plenty. Also grab any of his books especially “Wings On My Sleeve”, To get some appreciation of the man`s accomplishments.
Simmo

I have read so often that Eric Brown is a wonderful speaker. Are there any recordings or podcasts available on the web where I can download and hear some of his talks at all please?

Happy Birthday Mr. Brown. From a Brit across the pond. I wish you many more.

Cdr. ” Winkle ” Brown. CO. 804 Sqdn Lossiemouth 1955, Seahawks.

My first front line CO as a new naval airman from HMS Gamecock ? Is this he ?
And I am turning 78 in April 🙂

I can only echo the comments above. Having had the pleasure to sit and chat with Eric and then corresponded with him via letter, he is not only a wonderful man, in my own experience, he is also one of the rare breed of hero’s who is actually worth meeting… a glass of dark ale will be supped in his honour this weekend… 🙂

Cheers
Pete

He’s fabulous to listen to – his memory is simply incredible. We shook hands at the end and he grinned and said ‘you’ve just shaken the hand that shook the hand of Heinrich Himmler…’ brought me out in goosebumps….

John,

Thanks!

If you try the Aviation Book Shop for the “Wings of the Luftwaffe”, they may still have signed copies left…I couldn’t resist picking one up!

Regards;
Steve

RAFRochford

CAFUK

Thank you both for those suggestions. I’ll try Amazon.

Belated Happy Birthday Capt. Brown. What a wonderful man and an aviation treasure.

Seconded!

Belated Happy Birthday Capt. Brown. What a wonderful man and an aviation treasure.

This was really good to see, I met Mr Bown at Duxford 2 years ago, he was just a really nice guy, he has done so much in life, and there he was, short, far from inposing, full of conversation with my son. That was a good day out.:cool:

Bit off topic but does anyone know of a good way to contact him?

I’m been wanting to write for him for ages about one of the less exciting types he flew just to try and get an unbiased perspective.