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| Eric 'Winkle' Brown: Celebrated British pilot dies, aged 97 | Eric 'Winkle' Brown: Celebrated British pilot dies, aged 97 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Royal Navy's most decorated pilot, Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown, has died at the age of 97. | The Royal Navy's most decorated pilot, Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown, has died at the age of 97. |
| Capt Brown also held the world record for flying the greatest number of different types of aircraft - 487. | Capt Brown also held the world record for flying the greatest number of different types of aircraft - 487. |
| During World War Two, Capt Brown, who was born in Leith in 1919, flew fighter aircraft and witnessed the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. | During World War Two, Capt Brown, who was born in Leith in 1919, flew fighter aircraft and witnessed the liberation of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. |
| The pilot, who had been appointed MBE, OBE and CBE, died at East Surrey Hospital after a short illness. | The pilot, who had been appointed MBE, OBE and CBE, died at East Surrey Hospital 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. | 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. | "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." | "He also held three absolute Guinness World Records, including for the number of aircraft carrier deck landings and types of aeroplane flown." |
| Capt Brown was educated at Edinburgh's Royal High School, before studying at the University of Edinburgh, where he learned to fly. | Capt Brown was educated at Edinburgh's Royal High School, before studying at the University of Edinburgh, where he learned to fly. |
| He had caught the bug for flying at the age of eight when his father, a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One, took him up in a bi-plane. | |
| "There was no second seat, but I sat on his lap and he let me handle the stick," he told the BBC in 2014. | "There was no second seat, but I sat on his lap and he let me handle the stick," he told the BBC in 2014. |
| "It was exhilarating. You saw the earth from a completely different standpoint." | "It was exhilarating. You saw the earth from a completely different standpoint." |
| He retired from the Royal Navy in 1970 but became the director general of the British Helicopter Advisory Board and later the president of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1982. | He retired from the Royal Navy in 1970 but became the director general of the British Helicopter Advisory Board and later the president of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1982. |
| Landmark life | Landmark life |
| Capt Brown wrote numerous books of his own and forewords for other authors on the theme of aviation, before and after his retirement. | Capt Brown wrote numerous books of his own and forewords for other authors on the theme of aviation, before and after his retirement. |
| In March 2015 a bronze bust of him was unveiled at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset. | In March 2015 a bronze bust of him was unveiled at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset. |
| At his 97th birthday celebration in London on 27 January he was joined by more than 100 pilots, including the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas. | At his 97th birthday celebration in London on 27 January he was joined by more than 100 pilots, including the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas. |
| In 2014 , the war veteran was picked as the subject for the 3,000th edition of Desert Island Discs, during which he was described by presenter Kirsty Young as a "real life hero" and a "remarkable, dare-devil". | In 2014 , the war veteran was picked as the subject for the 3,000th edition of Desert Island Discs, during which he was described by presenter Kirsty Young as a "real life hero" and a "remarkable, dare-devil". |
| "When you read through his life story, it makes James Bond seem like a bit of a slacker," she said. | "When you read through his life story, it makes James Bond seem like a bit of a slacker," she said. |