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The Resource Eric Brown : a pilot's story, written and directed by Nicholas Jones, (videorecording)

Eric Brown : a pilot's story, written and directed by Nicholas Jones, (videorecording)

Contributor
Summary
Captain Eric Brown is the greatest aviator alive. Now aged 96, in this film he tells the amazing story of his life - one in which he should have been the first man to break the sound barrier. It's a story that, from the 1930s, moves between Brown's native Britain and the country that has played an extraordinary role in his life - Germany. For example, Brown is the man who identified a captive Heinrich Himmler in 1945. This film adopts a linear narrative that begins with Eric's first flight age 8, sitting on his father's knee in his biplane. In 1936 his father takes him to see the Berlin Olympics and meet Ernst Udet, von Richtofen's fabled ace. In 1939, teaching English in Munich, Brown is arrested by the SS the day war begins. Yet he's freed - and becomes a Royal Navy pilot, protecting convoys and shooting down German Kuriers. As this film shows, it is traumatic when a U-boat sinks his aircraft carrier in the freezing Atlantic. But Brown's skill at landing on carriers - even when they pitch 60 feet - has been spotted. He is removed from combat to become a test pilot. And so begins a 30 year test career in which he will fly 489 different aircraft types and make 2,407 deck landings. These remain world records. In 1944 his test work enables the legendary 8th USAAF to find the best escort to stop its bombers being shot down over Germany. He's also made CO of Captured Enemy Flight, where his job is to fly all the German aircraft the Allies capture - including the Me262 and 163 rocket plane. In 1945 he enters Belsen and interrogates the vile Irma Griese. These are the sort of people one can find in a country, he says in this film. He interviews Goering - a charismatic rogue. In Britain that year he is first to land one of the new jet planes on a carrier, then deemed impossible. And in 1946, he's chosen to fly Britain's pioneer supersonic aircraft, the M.52 - and become the first pilot through the sound barrier. Yet the M.52 is mysteriously cancelled ... . In the 1950s, Brown returns to Germany, to train its naval pilots so they can integrate with NATO. It can be a tricky job, especially when Karl Doenitz turns up at a funeral Brown's attending in 1957 - and is cheered by German sailors. Sadly, Brown's attempt to persuade Germany to buy a British fighter and not the Lockheed Starfighter fails. The latter plane becomes known in Germany as the widowmaker due to its terrible safety record. In 1965 Brown returns to Germany as a diplomat. He meets Adenauer and Erhart and accompanies the Queen on her state visit there. His delightful photographs of this event demonstrate why Eric Brown - A Pilot's Story is such a richly illustrated film. It tells a story both of war - and of reconciliation, as seen through the life of the 20th century's last flying legend
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
1 videodisc (98 minutes)
Note
Title from container
Isbn
9781939517388
Instance
Label
Eric Brown : a pilot's story
Title
Eric Brown
Title remainder
a pilot's story
Statement of responsibility
written and directed by Nicholas Jones
Title variation
Pilot's story
Contributor
Filmmaker
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
Captain Eric Brown is the greatest aviator alive. Now aged 96, in this film he tells the amazing story of his life - one in which he should have been the first man to break the sound barrier. It's a story that, from the 1930s, moves between Brown's native Britain and the country that has played an extraordinary role in his life - Germany. For example, Brown is the man who identified a captive Heinrich Himmler in 1945. This film adopts a linear narrative that begins with Eric's first flight age 8, sitting on his father's knee in his biplane. In 1936 his father takes him to see the Berlin Olympics and meet Ernst Udet, von Richtofen's fabled ace. In 1939, teaching English in Munich, Brown is arrested by the SS the day war begins. Yet he's freed - and becomes a Royal Navy pilot, protecting convoys and shooting down German Kuriers. As this film shows, it is traumatic when a U-boat sinks his aircraft carrier in the freezing Atlantic. But Brown's skill at landing on carriers - even when they pitch 60 feet - has been spotted. He is removed from combat to become a test pilot. And so begins a 30 year test career in which he will fly 489 different aircraft types and make 2,407 deck landings. These remain world records. In 1944 his test work enables the legendary 8th USAAF to find the best escort to stop its bombers being shot down over Germany. He's also made CO of Captured Enemy Flight, where his job is to fly all the German aircraft the Allies capture - including the Me262 and 163 rocket plane. In 1945 he enters Belsen and interrogates the vile Irma Griese. These are the sort of people one can find in a country, he says in this film. He interviews Goering - a charismatic rogue. In Britain that year he is first to land one of the new jet planes on a carrier, then deemed impossible. And in 1946, he's chosen to fly Britain's pioneer supersonic aircraft, the M.52 - and become the first pilot through the sound barrier. Yet the M.52 is mysteriously cancelled ... . In the 1950s, Brown returns to Germany, to train its naval pilots so they can integrate with NATO. It can be a tricky job, especially when Karl Doenitz turns up at a funeral Brown's attending in 1957 - and is cheered by German sailors. Sadly, Brown's attempt to persuade Germany to buy a British fighter and not the Lockheed Starfighter fails. The latter plane becomes known in Germany as the widowmaker due to its terrible safety record. In 1965 Brown returns to Germany as a diplomat. He meets Adenauer and Erhart and accompanies the Queen on her state visit there. His delightful photographs of this event demonstrate why Eric Brown - A Pilot's Story is such a richly illustrated film. It tells a story both of war - and of reconciliation, as seen through the life of the 20th century's last flying legend
Cataloging source
lbi
Characteristic
videorecording
Date time place
Originally produced by MVD Entertainment Group in 2014
Dewey number
629.13092
Intended audience
E
Language note
In English
PerformerNote
Captain Eric Brown RN
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
  • Jones, Nicholas.
  • Shelter Island (Firm)
Runtime
98
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Brown, Eric Melrose
  • Air pilots
  • Test pilots
  • Aeronautics
Target audience
general
Technique
live action
Label
Eric Brown : a pilot's story, written and directed by Nicholas Jones, (videorecording)
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Note
Title from container
Carrier category
videodisc
Carrier category code
  • vd
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
multicolored
Configuration of playback channels
mixed
Content category
two-dimensional moving image
Content type code
  • tdi
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
4 3/4 inches
Dimensions
other
Extent
1 videodisc (98 minutes)
Isbn
9781939517388
Media category
video
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • v
Medium for sound
videodisc
Other control number
826262013097
Other physical details
sound, colour
Sound on medium or separate
sound on medium
Specific material designation
videodisc
System control number
  • av00298932
  • 827623
System details
DVD ; widescreen presentation
Terms governing use
For private home use only.
Video recording format
DVD
Label
Eric Brown : a pilot's story, written and directed by Nicholas Jones, (videorecording)
Publication
Copyright
Note
Title from container
Carrier category
videodisc
Carrier category code
  • vd
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
multicolored
Configuration of playback channels
mixed
Content category
two-dimensional moving image
Content type code
  • tdi
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
4 3/4 inches
Dimensions
other
Extent
1 videodisc (98 minutes)
Isbn
9781939517388
Media category
video
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • v
Medium for sound
videodisc
Other control number
826262013097
Other physical details
sound, colour
Sound on medium or separate
sound on medium
Specific material designation
videodisc
System control number
  • av00298932
  • 827623
System details
DVD ; widescreen presentation
Terms governing use
For private home use only.
Video recording format
DVD

Subject

Genre

Library Locations

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      43.1603307 -79.2460639

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