Legendary Pilot Eric 'Winkle' Brown's Medals Unveiled

Fleet Air Arm museum have unveiled the medals and logbooks belonging to the Navy’s most decorated test pilot Capt Eric 'Winkle' Brown.

The items – including his Air Force Cross and Defence Medal with King's Commendation for Brave Conduct - went up for auction in November last year following the death of Capt Brown and were expected to reach £200,000.

With short notice to raise the funds, the Fleet Air Arm Museum curators were unable to afford the medals, but an anonymous benefactor stepped in on their behalf.

Capt Brown is a legend to the Somerset museum, flying 487 different types of aircraft and completing 2,407 aircraft carrier landings, which are world records unlikely to be matched. Aircraft curator David Morris said:

"When you start looking at his logbooks and how many airplane types he flew, pretty well, everywhere you look in the museum there is something connect to Eric Brown and his story of flying."

Nicknamed ‘Winkle’ because of his height, he survived 11 plane crashes and was awarded the MBE, OBE and CBE.

Last year the Fleet Air Arm hosted a fly past in celebration of his life.

More: Winkle Brown's 11-Year-Old Pen Pal Fights To Keep His Medals In UK