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  • Published: 16 February 2023
  • ISBN: 9781405930321
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 544

Winkle

The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot




The daring life and astonishing adventures of Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown - Britain's greatest-ever pilot.

Eric 'Winkle' Brown was Britain's greatest pilot. His extraordinary flying career saw him fight in the Battle of Britain, narrowly escape death on a torpedoed aircraft carrier, achieve a litany of new records and firsts as a test pilot, and fly more kinds of aircraft than any other pilot in history.

With a life as remarkable as his flying, Brown faced imprisonment in Germany at the outbreak of WWII, and after the Allied victory his fluent German saw him interviewing senior Nazi officials and participating in the liberation of Belsen - an experience that haunted him for the rest of his life.

A rival to Chuck Yeager and hero to astronaut Neil Armstrong, by the time of his death in 2016 Winkle Brown had become a legend in his own lifetime and a national treasure.

Drawing on Brown's own papers and fascinating new research, Paul Beaver uncovers surprising new truths and incredible achievements in the definitive account of a pilot and man who was revered around the world.

  • Published: 16 February 2023
  • ISBN: 9781405930321
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 544

Praise for Winkle

An excellent biography

PATRICK BISHOP, DAILY TELEGRAPH

Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place

OBSERVER

The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero ... epic

THE HERALD

Eric 'Winkle' Brown may not be a household name, but he certainly should be, and this thumping great biography by Britain's leading aviation historian deserves to put that right

DAILY MAIL 'BOOK OF THE WEEK'

Winkle Brown's astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading

Sunday Express

Riveting ... one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise ... an incredible story

Flyer

An incredible life ... Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable

The Sun