Capt Eric Brown on German aircraft and interrogating Nazis 

Eric Brown gets my vote as the "Most Interesting Man in the World."

I'm currently reading Brown's book "Wings on my Sleeve" for the third time. He was a true hero of his time.

Good tribute to a brilliant man RIP Eric Brown not only a star pilot but also a gifted writer and speaker a treat to listen to

He was a truly great man, not over-endowed with ego despite his extraordinary achievements. On learning of the U.K. government intention to cancel the Miles M-52, he begged for the project to be allowed to continue post war regardless of any personal risk. The M-52 project had begun in 1943 & would have seen Britain being the first through the sound barrier ~ the target was 1000mph by the end of 1946 ~ and that was with a Whittle jet engine with reheat, not 4 rocket motors like the Bell X-1. In a fairly typical tale, the Brits exchanged their high-speed research with the USA ~ who promptly reneged on their side of the bargain but happily took the M-52’s all-flying tail. Brown had proved the concept of such a tail by flying a Spitfire fitted with one to M0.86 in a controlled dive ~ the controlled bit being most pertinent. The USA fitted an all flying tail to their X-1 which immediately solved their existing controllability issues & enabled Yeager to break the sound barrier. What Eric Brown thought of all this typical U.K. government prevarication & USA subsequent actions I’m not sure ~ but I have a pretty good idea! We shall not see his like again.

He was never knighted? And yet every fifth actor and singer is Sir So-and-so. WTAF?

Greatest pilot to ever sit in a cockpit!

This video deserves far more views, especially by anyone interested in aviation history and WW2. Glad YT "recommended" it to me. Marvelous flier, Capt. Brown.

No knighthood. Baffling beyond belief.

I love his understatement, "it was a little dangerous". What a guy! They don't make them like that anymore!

It is a disgrace that he was not more highly honoured.

Cat. Brown told a story about being in a hospital of some kind where Hanna Reotsch was being treated for a heart condition that may or may not have been simulated. Up until then nobody knew who she was He recognised her at once and she was taken into custody. She must have been so happy to see him LOL

Absolute bloody legend. He alone advanced the RAF more than any other pilot. Landing a bomber on an aircraft carrier takes very big dangling bits!...

I picked up his autobiography a few years ago in Glasgow ... in a Pound Shop. It's a brilliant read. R.I.P. Eric "Winkle" Brown

I met this great aviator in person at his home in around 2004 when with another historian we interviewed him specifically about his time with aircraft carrier landings etc. He was a most gracious host. He took us into his study which had a fine display of model aircraft and later in his lounge room I observed a small drinks bar tucked in the corner of the room where he know doubt served good friends and fellow pilots with a good tipple. It was not hard to imagine whilst I sat there the conversation around that bar in evenings past with pilots from all nations who had the privilege of experiencing his great hospitality and their shared loved of flying.

Keep in mind the various marks of an aircraft were only counted as 1 type of aircraft. As an example, Captain Brown flew all marks of the Spitfire, but it only counted as 1 Spitfire aircraft. The 487 types of aircraft would be greatly increased in he included all of the different marks for each type

Fantastic. A brilliant pilot and fascinating man. As many others have said, his flying record will never be equalled.

Love this man !! History right from his lips?? I WOULD like to thank him for sharing his story and his experiences with the planes he flew!! He was a valuable man for History alone?? Talking with high ranking NAZI party members?? Amazing!! HERO' among HERO'S !!! A true treasure!! His stories should be told and preserved for the future generations?? God bless him 🙏!!! And all combat vets!!! Politicians should lead on the Frontline and then they. Might not want to be so eager for WAR?? THEY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE MEN WHO HAD TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FRIENDS AND LIVE WITH THE HORROR OF LOSING THEIR BUDDIES?? IF YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT THEN YOU WILL NEVER KNOW?? AND THAT'S WITH ANYTHING IN LIFE?? THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE?? CAN'T LEARN IT FROM A BOOK????

Eric Brown is the only exception I know of to the axiom - "There are Old pilots and there are Bold pilots, but, there are no Old, Bold pilots." Brown is the only man in his class.

I met Captain Brown once a year at this event called BROPH. The last of those events was about 15 years ago though. He was a fascinating individual and incredibly modest too.

What a wonderful and eloquent raconteur, so precise in his recollections. I could listen to him all day. R.I.P😁🇬🇧

'was a bit sobering...' Typical Brit understatement...

Truly a legend. Get hold of his book, it's a fascinating read.

He is without a doubt the best pilot the world has ever seen.

Amazing pilot, Amazing man. Yet his boots always remained on the ground. Years could never dampen his enthusiasm and love of all things flying. He was born to fly.

He probably wouldn’t have done it because he was to modest, but I could imagine him visiting air museums throughout the world looking at the exhibits, and saying to himself, flown that, flown that, flown that.

Superb. Many thanks for the upload.

Even the master has a model of the B1 Spirit on his shelf. I could have talked to him for days. A great man. Thanks uploader.

What a guy! RIP sir!

Thank goodness we had chaps like him. Read his book. 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Is this the single most fascinating video on RU-vid?

Gems of history! Thank you.

I can’t think of a better bloke to have a few pints with! 👍

Excellent video of a great man. I love those test pilots. I enjoyed hearing him talk about the German aircraft. 😊👍

Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what/whom capt. Brown other guest speakers were describing. Class A research project!!!

My fathers ship, HMS Thane probably ferried Browns first helicopter flight to England in Jan 45. The Thane had the misfortune of being attacked by U1172 via an acoustic torpedo, and was subsequently damaged/disabled in the Irish Sea at some loss of life. Once towed by the frigate Loring into Greenock her cargo of 68 aircraft, which included 9 Hoverfly helicopters, were flown off to Speke airfield near Liverpool, which I heard elsewhere was the site Browns first helicopter flight.

Oh man, I am so proud dear Eric was a Scot. Lord bless this most humble & excellent human being . Just a Superbious lovely man. 🏴💙

We've all heard of the Messerschmidt ME262 but I'm very surprised that I've never heard of the Heinkel He 280, a German twin turbojet flying in 1940 at 467.0 mph up to 37,390 ft.

my right ear very much enjoyed this video.

5*MUST WATCH!

Its all been said.What a bloke !

this man holds the record for the most recods talented pilot smart and analytical can I have a beer with this chap?

Love this vdo ty

I wonder whether he asked Goering about Udet’s death?

I have seen the Heinkel 162 in IWM, and E.B. named it a very fine plane. Though the glue used wasn't of any top quality. But the Horten Brothers were people originally making gliders (One brother missed the Eastern Front, because he was claimed to be needed as test pilot at home in the factory) and it needed skills to fly the pure wing, so it sadly never was tested by people who knew how to fly it.

that went by too fast -- I could listen to him talk all day

Tough man. Respect!

Great, thank you. In my view, the Messerschmitt 262 is a very beautiful looking plane. It was way ahead of it’s time in styling and performance.

Pity he was not Oxford or Cambridge or we would be reading the fascinating hisory of Sir Eric Brown.

sharp as a tack

Thank you for this I'm reading his book right now

Where was he kept when war broke out? I think I must have heard it wrong 🙀

What a man!

Interesting then at the beginning of the war the Nazis let him leave the country. I wonder if Udet had any influence on that?

Legend!

12.14. All those lovely German aircraft. Where are they all now?

The 262 was how much faster? Than the Meteor? Or than the fastest piston allied fighter?

That will hurt many a Scot ... A Scot saying..." .....all I could do was sit back and think of England" : )

That this man died in bed is one of the least believable things on the internet. And yet it’s true.

This great pilot should have been knighted and well looked after by a grateful country ! If he was German he would have been !!

Wodda guy.

Yes it is sad that Captain Brown never received more official merit for his service to the country and now today knighthood s and peerages are given out like sweeties.A sad reflection on our country. Being a modest man he probably didn't even think that way.In a way his legacy will live on through history that is more than any Knighthood or peerage.

Why is your sound out of sync and only coming through one channel ? And, why rather weird noise gate-ing?

To many Gs,couldnt raise my arms to eject "nothing to do but sit back and think of England" .True englishman ,take everything in stride!!!

Nerves of steel. Cldnt move your arms because of 4g to pull escape hatch all ya cld do is sit and think 🤔 of England 😊

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Scottish!

Of course he was not allowed to ask Göring anything political because than he would have heard the truth.

after three days in castration, ?

I met Captain Brown once a year at this event called BROPH. He was a fascinating individual and incredibly modest too.