HMS Ocean, a British light aircraft carrier, was fog-bound and awaiting an approaching aircraft on Dec. 3, 1945 — so it could make history.
The plane was a jet-powered, specially modified de Havilland Vampire piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric “Winkle” Brown of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, arguably Britain’s greatest test pilot then and now.
He already held several world aviation records, and would eventually hold the record for test-flying more aircraft models than any other pilot in the world – 487 different planes, a record that remains unbroken. Brown would ultimately hold the rank of captain in the Royal Navy as well as commander in the Order of the British Empire for his achievements.
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