PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

Hi!
I was watching the new PBS TV show Secrets of the Dead last night. Retired test pilot RN Capt Eric Brown was interviewed on camera. He claimed to have (unofficially without authorization) flown a fully fueled rocket powered Me 163. I checked his book on his personal test flights of Luftwaffe aircraft, 'Wings of the Luftwaffe' (1977) In it he wrote only of unfueled gliding tests.

Was he pulling our collective legs in this latest interview or was it a confession that he left out something in his 1977 book?

Thanks.

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

Aha, I was thinking the same thing while watching this. It seems incredible that Brown undertook a "sharp" start in the Kraftei, but if someone from the Allied side did, it would have been him.

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

The following website may be of interest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_%22Winkle%22_Brown

Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, FRAeS, RN is a former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who has flown more types of aircraft than anyone else in history. He is also the Fleet Air Arm’s most decorated pilot.[1]
Born in January 1919, he first flew when he was 18.
After World War II‚ Brown commanded Enemy Aircraft Flight, an elite group of pilots who test-flew captured German aircraft. That experience makes Brown one of the few men qualified to compare both Allied and Axis "warbirds" as they actually flew during the war. He flight-tested 53 German aircraft, including the Me 163 rocket plane and the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet plane.
He helped interview many Germans after World War II, including Wernher von Braun and Hermann Goering[2], Willy Messerschmitt and Dr. Ernst Heinkel[3].
He was due to be the first supersonic pilot in the Miles M.52, but this fell through when the program was cancelled.
On December 3, 1945, Brown made the world's first landing of a jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier. He landed a de Havilland Sea Vampire on the Royal Navy carrier HMS Ocean. He also holds the world's record for the most carrier landings, 2,407.
He flew aircraft from Britain, America, Germany, Italy and Japan, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for flying the greatest number of different aircraft. The official record is 487, but only includes basic types. For example Captain Brown flew several versions of the Spitfire and Seafire, and although these versions are very different they only appear once in the list.
Brown has written several books about his experiences, including many describing the flight characteristics of the various aircraft he flew, and an autobiography. He is also the author of dozens of articles in aviation magazines and journals.
He finally gave up his wings at 70 years old, but still lectures. He is a regular attendee of British Rocketry Oral History Programme (BROHP), where the annual presentation of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards takes place. He was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award for 2007.
Kind Regards
Ross

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

Hi!
A while ago on another discussion group it was pointed out to me that there were rumors of armless pilots found dead after using the ejection seat of the Do 335. Supposedly the release for the canopy was attached to the canopy. I remembered that I had read about that in one of Brown's books.
His actual report in 'Wings of the Luftwaffe" (1977) has no mention of armless pilots. Puzzled I finally found the story in 'Wings on My Sleeve'.
It was told to him by captured Luftwaffe personnel.

I have been since told the location of the canopy release on the Do 335 is not in a dangerous location. I suppose a trip to the Smithsonian would clear up any questions since they have the only Do 335 left.

So this is not the first time I have come across conflicting information from Brown.

-Gene

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

Dear All,

Changing subjects, I was tentatively thinking about buying this video and luckily ran across it on PBS. It is another slapdash history not worth my money. If they think I'm going to believe that someone had a color camera available to film someone trying to spirit a woman to the West, well, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to that same person. Also, the color "flight" scenes of an Me 262 were pure computer graphics and not all that good, either. This is a hodgepodge affair. If there are certain scenes that really captured something you are interested in, buy it. Otherwise, save your money for a more worthy effort.

Regards,
Richard

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

Richard:
I have to agree with you about the overall quality of the show. One needs to separate facts from opinion. The recent interviews with actual participants are of the most value. Shows like this usually peak my curiosity enough to read more about the subject...ask more questions...learn something about the past. Brown's recent interview in my opinion rings true. He actually believes what he is telling us. What I want to know is why he didn't tell us this in 1977 in his book. Again this is my opinion: He is a heck of a story teller.

-Gene

Re: PBS Secrets of the Dead
 

As I recall, the ejection handle for the Do 335 was on the right instrument console, and since it was not attached to the seat, as was that for the He 162, I would consider that to be a very dangerous location for the handle, since you would pull up the handle and up would fly your seat with your hand still on the handle which remains in the cockpit. The He 219 had the same arrangement as the Do 335.

When you eject you want to have everything tucked in nice and tight to ensure it doesn't contact the aircraft as you leave it, and having the ejection handle on a part of the aircraft just doesn't ensure that. So, while the idea of armless ejectees may be an old-wives tale, it certainly has the possibility of truth in it.

All the best,
George