The Miles M.9 Master was a British two-seat

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

advanced trainer designed and built by aviation company Miles Aircraft Ltd. It was inducted in large numbers into both the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

(RAF) and

Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, RN fighting arms. it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the Lockhee ...

(FAA) during the Second World War. The Master can trace its origins back to the earlier M.9 Kestrel demonstrator aircraft. Following the failure of the rival de Havilland Don as a satisfactory trainer aircraft, the RAF ordered 500 ''M9A Master'' advanced trainers to meet its needs. Once in service, it provided a fast, strong and fully

aerobatic Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aeroplane" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and gl ...

aircraft that functioned as an excellent introduction to the high performance British

fighter aircraft Fighter aircraft (early on also ''pursuit aircraft'') are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air supremacy, air superiority of the battlespace. Domina ...

of the day: the

Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allies of World War II, Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced conti ...

and

Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was overshadowed in the public consciousness by ...

. Throughout its production life, thousands of aircraft and various variants of the Master were produced, the latter being largely influenced by engine availability. Numerous Masters were modified to enable their use as glider tows. The Master also served as the basis for the

Miles Martinet The Miles M.25 Martinet was a target tug aircraft of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm (FAA) that was in service during the Second World War. It was the first British aircraft to be designed specifically for target towing. Work on t ...

, a dedicated

target tug A target tug is an aircraft which tows an unmanned drone, a fabric drogue or other kind of target, for the purposes of gun or missile target practice. Target tugs are often conversions of transport and utility aircraft, as well as obsolescent c ...

adopted by the RAF. Perhaps the most radical use of the aircraft was the M.24 Master Fighter. Armed with six 0.303 inch (7.7 mm) machine guns, it was intended for mass production as an emergency fighter during the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain () was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force ...

; this model did not ultimately see combat. Ordinary trainer models could also be fitted with armaments, including a single .303 in

Vickers machine gun The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a Water cooling, water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The gun was operated by a three-man crew but typically required more me ...

and eight bombs, for training purposes only. Beyond the British air services, other nations also chose to adopt the Master, including the

South African Air Force The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II a ...

United States Army Air Force The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

Irish Air Corps The Air Corps () is the air force of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Organisationally a military branch of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Defence Forces of Ireland, the Air Corps utilises a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft to carry out ...

Royal Egyptian Air Force The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) () is the Air force, aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces that is responsible for all airborne defence missions and operates all military aircraft, including those used in support of the Egyptian Army, Egypti ...

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...

, and the

Portuguese Air Force The Portuguese Air Force () is the air force, aerial warfare force of Portugal. Locally it is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF. It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese ...

. While thousands of Masters were manufactured, no complete examples have been preserved.

Development

Background

The ''M.9A Master I'' was based on the privately developed M.9 Kestrel trainer that was first demonstrated at the Hendon Air show in July 1937, although this aircraft never entered production. The M.9 Kestrel, powered by a single Rolls-Royce Kestrel XVI V-12 engine, capable of generating up to 745 hp (555 kW), could attain a maximum speed of 296 mph (477 km/h).Amos ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1980, pp. 413–414. The British

Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force and civil aviation that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the ...

had previously selected the de Havilland Don multi-role trainer to meet Specification T.6/36, which called for an advanced

trainer aircraft A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristic ...

; however, this aircraft would prove to be a failure. Still requiring an aircraft to perform the duties intended for the Don, following the prototype Master (serial N3300) the RAF placed a large order on 11 June 1938 for 500 examples of a modified version of the Kestrel (to specification 16/38), designated M.9A with the service name Master, at a cost of £2 million. This was claimed to be Britain's largest ever contract for a training aircraft at the time. Upon receipt of this order, Miles had the prototype M.9 rebuilt into a representative prototype for the Master. Alterations included the installation of a lower-powered (715 hp (535 kW)) Kestrel XXX engine, of which there were large surplus stocks available, along with extensive revisions to the airframe, which involved the adoption of a new cockpit

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...

, a modified rear fuselage and tail, along with the repositioning of the

radiator A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics. A radiator is always a ...

from underneath the nose to the underside of the wing's centre-section. These modifications came at the cost of a significantly reduced maximum speed over the M.9; despite this, the Master was a relatively fast and manoeuvrable trainer. Miles had designed the Master to fulfil their vision of an effective trainer aircraft, being one that could match the performance of, and possess similar characteristics to, the frontline RAF

fighters of the day, these being the

and the

."Milestones...1939."
''Flight'', 5 February 1942. p. vi.

Into flight

On 31 March 1939, the first true production Master I conducted its

maiden flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. In the early days of aviation it could be dange ...

.Amos ''Aeroplane Monthly'' August 1980, pp. 414–416.March 1998, p. 177. The first production examples were delivered during late July of that year.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. p. 77. The Master had entered RAF service just prior to the start of the Second World War. Eventually, 900 Mk. I and Mk. IA Masters were constructed. This total included 26 built as the M.24 Master Fighter which were modified to a single-seat configuration, and armed with six .303 in machine guns for use as an emergency fighter; this model never saw combat use. When production of the Kestrel engine ceased, a new variant of the Master was designed that used an air-cooled Bristol Mercury XX

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...

, capable of producing 870 hp (650 kW), instead. Thus configured, on 30 October 1939, the first ''M.19 Master II'' prototype made its first flight; 1,748 aircraft were eventually built. After the

Lend-Lease Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States (),3,000 Hurricanes and >4,000 other aircraft) * 28 naval vessels: ** 1 Battleship. (HMS Royal Sovereign (05), HMS Royal Sovereign) * ...

programme provided a supply of engines from the United States to Britain, a third variant of the Master, designated ''M.27 Master III'', was designed, which was powered by the American-built Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior, a two-row radial engine that could generate 825 hp (615 kW). A total of 602 Master IIIs were constructed.Amos ''Aeroplane Monthly'' September 1980, p. 462. In a typical trainer configuration, the Master was equipped to carry eight practice bombs, plus a single .303 in

that was mounted in the front fuselage. During 1942, it was decided to have the wings of all variants clipped by three feet (c. one metre); this modification reduced the stress imposed upon the wings while also increasing the aircraft's manoeuvrability.

Production

A total of 3,249 Masters were built by Phillips and Powis Aircraft Limited (as Miles was known until 1943) at Woodley, Berkshire;

South Marston South Marston is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The village is about north-east of Swindon town centre. History The earliest documentary evidence for continuous settlement dates from the 13th centur ...

, near

Swindon Swindon () is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the time of the 2021 Census the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located at the northeastern edge of the South West England region, Swi ...

, Wiltshire; and

Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...

. This was the largest number produced of any Miles aircraft type prior to production of the newer

taking precedence during 1942.Amos ''Aeroplane Monthly'' September 1980, pp. 432, 464. The mass production of this aeroplane at Woodley required a major expansion of the original Phillips & Powis factory, which was officially opened on 27 January 1939 by the

Secretary of State for Air The Secretary of State for Air was a secretary of state position in the British government that existed from 1919 to 1964. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. The Secretary of State for Air was supported by ...

, Sir Kingsley Wood. This facility was outfitted with a pioneering moving track assembly line, which is believed to be the first such facility in a British aircraft factory. A similar facility was also installed in the company's shadow factory at South Marston by the end of 1940.

Design

The Miles Master was a

tandem Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which two or more animals, machines, or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. ''Tandem'' can also be used more generally to refer to any group of persons or objects w ...

-seat low-wing

cantilever A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is unsupported at one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a cantilev ...

, powered by a single

reciprocating engine A reciprocating engine, more often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of al ...

. Initial models used the Kestrel XXX engine; capable of providing up to 745 hp (555 kW), this powerplant enabled the aircraft to achieve a maximum speed of 296 mph (477 km/h), which reportedly made the Master as fast as the single-seat

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

fighters of 1935. The inverted

gull wing The gull wing, also known as Polish wing or Puławski wing, is an aircraft wing configuration with a prominent bend in the wing inner section towards the wing root. Its name is derived from the seabirds which it resembles and from the Polish a ...

of the Master was a major distinguishing factor of the aircraft and was adopted – despite higher production costs – for its performance benefits, permitting the stowage of both the retractable

undercarriage Undercarriage is the part of a moving vehicle that is underneath the main body of the vehicle. The term originally applied to this part of a horse-drawn carriage, and usage has since broadened to include: *The landing gear of an aircraft. *The ch ...

and fuel tanks; aside from this shaping, the wing's design largely conformed with traditional approaches.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. pp. 77-78. It featured

hydraulically Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...

-actuated split flaps along its

trailing edge The trailing edge of an aerodynamic surface such as a wing is its rear edge, where the airflow separated by the leading edge meets.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 521. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. ...

, their position being indicated electronically on the cockpit's instrumentation panel. The wing's centre-section also accommodated a single machine gun.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. p. 78. While the Master had incorporated relatively advanced aerodynamic characteristics (intended to mimic frontline fighters) for a contemporary trainer aircraft, it used a conventional structure, comprising an oval-section fuselage covered by a

plywood Plywood is a composite material manufactured from thin layers, or "plies", of wood veneer that have been stacked and glued together. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured boards, which include plywood, medium-density fibreboa ...

skin, featuring a semi-

monocoque Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell". First used for boats, ...

approach. Forward of the tandem cockpits, the nose is strengthened by a metal former that provides protection against nose-overs, a common occurrence amongst trainee pilots when flying aircraft with 'tail dragger'

conventional undercarriage Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Ter ...

. The tail section had an orthodox

structure, the tailplane being mounted directly on top of the fuselage; the tailplane's aerodynamics were designed to facilitate easy

spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

recovery. The Kestrel engine is mounted on tubular steel bearings, to facilitate engine removal for ease of maintenance through four main bolts along with the connecting leads. Further maintenance savings were made by de-rating the engine power, giving a longer interval between overhauls. The Master was furnished with a constant-speed propeller, which was interchangeable between

Rotol Dowty Propellers is a British engineering company based in Brockworth, Gloucestershire that specialises in the manufacture, repair and overhaul of propellers and propeller components for customers around the world. It is owned by GE Aerospace ...

and

de Havilland The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited (pronounced , ) was a British aviation manufacturer established in late 1920 by Geoffrey de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware on the outskirts of North London. Operations were later moved to ...

units. The Kestrel engine of early-built aircraft incorporated various auxiliary drives to power both

vacuum A vacuum (: vacuums or vacua) is space devoid of matter. The word is derived from the Latin adjective (neuter ) meaning "vacant" or "void". An approximation to such vacuum is a region with a gaseous pressure much less than atmospheric pressur ...

and hydraulic pumps, along with an

air compressor An air compressor is a machine that takes ambient air from the surroundings and discharges it at a higher pressure. It is an application of a gas compressor and a Pneumatics, pneumatic device that energy conversion, converts mechanical power (from ...

and a 500-watt electrical generator. Cooling for the water and oil systems was provided via a duct running underneath the fuselage. Fuel was housed in a pair of tanks, each containing up to , accommodated within the wings; the oil tank is mounted behind a fireproof bulkhead while the water tank is mounted in front of the engine. The retractable undercarriage is operated via two separate hydraulic systems along with a hand-pump as backup; the

brake A brake is a machine, mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for Acceleration, slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of ...

s are also hydraulically-actuated.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. pp. 78-79. The cockpit of the Master was designed with considerable attention to best facilitate its use as a trainer aircraft, including for ease of use and comfort. The positions of the two flying crew, the student in front and the instructor behind, was staggered; the rear position was 12 inches higher to provide the instructor with greater visibility.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. pp. 79-80. Mid-flight, an instructor could disconnect several of the student pilot's controls, such as the brakes, using various cut-outs. The forward windscreen is composed of moulded

Perspex Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a synthetic polymer derived from methyl methacrylate. It is a transparent thermoplastic, used as an engineering plastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and bran ...

and furnished with a reflector-type gun sight, providing an optically-perfect view of a target. Two small panels could be opened to aid visibility while flying in poor weather conditions, sun blinds were also incorporated. Catches on either side of the sliding canopy allowed for the panels to be rapidly detached, facilitating faster bailing-out during an emergency.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. p. 79. Other emergency equipment included a

Graviner Graviner is a British engineering company that makes oxygen (life support) and fire extinguishing systems for civil and military aircraft. The name is a portmanteau of gravity and inertia. History The company was independently operational from ...

fire extinguisher A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which ha ...

mounted behind the rear seat and emergency hydraulic controls set into the floor of the cockpit.''Flight'', 27 July 1939. p. 80.

Operational history

Typical service use of the Master primarily revolved around ''(Pilot) Advanced Flying Units'', where they were used for training aircrew in preparation for service with frontline squadrons. Amongst other parts of the training syllabus, pilots would often be first exposed to fighter tactics while flying the aircraft. By 1942, advertisements claimed that the Master was being flown by every RAF fighter pilot-in-training. Several hundred Master IIs were either delivered in, or subsequently converted to, a configuration that allowed their use in the glider-towing role. Such aircraft would have the lower portion of their

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...

cut away to allow fitting of a towing hook. Starting in 1942, Miles Masters were extensively used as tugs for

General Aircraft Hotspur The General Aircraft GAL.48 Hotspur was a military glider designed and built by the British company General Aircraft Limited, General Aircraft Ltd during World War II. When the British airborne forces, airborne establishment was formed in 1940 ...

gliders at various Glider Training Schools. Examples were also operated by multiple Anti-aircraft Co-operation Units of the RAF as a

liaison aircraft A liaison aircraft (also called an army cooperation aircraft) is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. Operation The concept developed before Worl ...

with

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

units. Initially, the type was mainly used for training, thus few aircraft entered squadron service. Known deployments were to No. 287 Squadron between February and August 1942, to No. 286 Squadron from November 1944 to February 1945,Jefford 2001, p. 85. and to No. 613 Squadron between August 1941 and October 1943. The Master II was also used for

purposes at the Central Gunnery School whilst the School was based at

RAF Sutton Bridge Royal Air Force Sutton Bridge or more simply RAF Sutton Bridge is a former Royal Air Force List of former Royal Air Force stations, station found next to the village of Sutton Bridge in the south-east of Lincolnshire. The airfield was to the sou ...

from April 1942 to March 1944. In this role, they pulled the drogue targets required for aerial gunnery training by pupils at the Pilot Gunnery Instructors' Training Wing. The

, a derivative of the Master, was a developed specifically to be a target tug and would see widespread use in this capacity. RAF stocks were frequently diverted to support several of the air services of the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are calle ...

and other non-hostile nations. Such diversions included 426 aircraft to the

, 52 to the

, nine to the

units based in Britain, 23 to the

, 23 to

, two to

, and fourteen to the

. Despite having been produced in the thousands, there are no known surviving aircraft of the type today, although a few outer wings and other parts are held by several aviation museums in Britain.

Variants

;Miles M.9A Master :The prototype Master (serial number N3300) was modified from the private venture M.9 Kestrel trainer prototype. ;Miles M.9B Master I :Initial production of variant of the Master, it was powered by the Rolls-Royce Kestrel XXX engine. Maximum speed was , ceiling was and maximum range was . The Miles M.9C Master IA was an improved design with more angular windscreen and a wingspan reduced from to with squared wingtips, all M.9B Master Is were converted to this standard. Production totalled 900 aircraft built at Woodley. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Miles M

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Miles M

;Miles M.19 Master II :With supplies of the Kestrel engine dwindling, the Master was re-engined with the Bristol Mercury XX, creating the M.19 Master II. Earlier versions had the longer wing while later versions adopted the reduced wingspan. Maximum speed was increased to , ceiling was and maximum range was . The Miles M.19 Master GT.II was a version modified as a glider tug, at least 133 conversions were made and 290 Master IIs were built as GT.IIs. Production totalled 1,748 aircraft built at Woodley and South Marston.Amos 2012, p. A182 ;Miles M.24 Master Fighter :Stop-gap fighter version of Master I with rear seat removed and six 0.303 Browning machine-guns in the wings. 25 conversions of Master Is on the production line.Amos 2012, pp. 135-136 Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Miles M

;Miles M.27 Master III :To overcome shortages of Mercury engines, the

Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior The Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior is an American aircraft engine developed in the 1930s. The engine was introduced in 1932 as a 14-cylinder version of the 9-cylinder R-985, and was a two-row, air-cooled radial design. Displacement was ...

was fitted to a modified airframe, creating the M.27 Master III. Maximum speed was , ceiling was and maximum range was .Production totalled 602 aircraft, all built at South Marston. ;Miles M.31 Master IV :Proposed improved design to give the instructor a better field of view, none built.Amos 2012, pp. 95-112

Military operators

Belgian Air Force The Belgian Air and Space Component (, ) is the Air force, air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force (; ). It was founded in 1909 and is one of the world's oldest air services. ...

– 26 aircraft supplied in 1944 from RAF stocksAmos 2012, pp. A226-A227Amos 2012, pp. A146 – A181 *

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...

– 12 former RAF Master IIs were purchased (six in 1943 and six in 1945),Amos 2012, p. A228 *

– 4 former RAF Master IIs were delivered in 1943 and ten Master IIIs delivered from 1941.Amos 2012, pp. A224-A226 *

– 453 Master IIs were supplied to South Africa (including 25 which were lost at sea and did not arrive).Amos 2012, pp. A212-A223 *

operational units *

No. 4 Squadron RAF No. 4 Squadron, also known as No. IV Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. Since November 2011, it has operated the BAE Hawk T2 from RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. The squadron provides weapons and tactics training for student pilots a ...

No. 16 Squadron RAF Number 16 Squadron Royal Air Force, nicknamed 'the Saints', is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who currently provide elementary flying training (EFT) with the Grob Tutor T1, presently based at RAF Wittering, an RAF airbase in ...

No. 25 Squadron RAF Number 25 (Fighter) Squadron (alternatively Number XXV (F) Squadron) is a squadron of the Royal Air Force having reformed on 8 September 2018. During the First World War, No. 25 Squadron operated as a fighter-reconnaissance unit and later as a ...

* No. 26 Squadron RAF * No. 73 Squadron RAF * No. 85 Squadron RAF *

No. 87 Squadron RAF No. 87 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during the First World War and Second World War. World War I 87 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was first formed on 1 September 1917 at RAF Upavon, Upavon from elements of t ...

No. 105 Squadron RAF No. 105 Squadron was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force, active for three periods between 1917 and 1969. It was originally established during the World War I, First World War as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and disbanded after the ...

* No. 140 Squadron RAF * No. 152 Squadron RAF * No. 168 Squadron RAF * No. 219 Squadron RAF * No. 222 Squadron RAF * No. 225 Squadron RAF * No. 238 Squadron RAF *

No. 239 Squadron RAF No. 239 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. During World War II the squadron performed as an army co-operation squadron and later as a night intruder unit. After the war the squadron was disband ...

No. 242 Squadron RAF No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron. It flew in many roles during the First World War, Second World War and Cold War. During the Second World War, the squadron was notable for (firstly) having many pilots who were either ...

No. 245 Squadron RAF No. 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew as an anti-submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II. After the war it was first a jet-fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar-cal ...

No. 249 Squadron RAF No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence. It was one of the top scoring fighter squadrons of the RAF in World War II. History First formation No. ...

No. 253 Squadron RAF No. 253 (Hyderabad State) Squadron was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force between 1918 and 1947. Originally formed in 1918, it served in WW1 flying coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. Later in WW2 it took part in the Battle ...

* No. 257 Squadron RAF * No. 264 Squadron RAF * No. 266 Squadron RAF * No. 286 Squadron RAF * No. 287 Squadron RAF *

No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 302 (City of Poznan) Polish Fighter Squadron RAF () was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1940. It was one of several Polish fighter ...

No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 306 "Toruń" Polish Fighter Squadron () was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1940. It was one of 15 squadrons of the Polish Air Force ...

No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron No. 307 (Polish) Squadron, also known as No. 307 (City of Lwów) Squadron () was a Polish squadron (aviation), squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1940. It was ...

* No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron * No. 414 Squadron RCAF * No. 460 Squadron RAAF * No. 504 Squadron RAF * No. 521 Squadron RAF * No. 600 Squadron RAF * No. 607 Squadron RAF * No. 610 Squadron RAF * No. 613 Squadron RAF *

No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957. History Formation and early years No. 615 squadron was formed at RAF Kenley as part of the Auxilia ...

* No. 616 Squadron RAF RAF training units * No. 5 Flying Training School RAF * No. 8 Flying Training School RAF * No. 9 Flying Training School RAF * No. 14 Flying Training School RAF * No. 15 Flying Training School RAF *

No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF The numero sign or numero symbol, (also represented as Nº, No̱, No., or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, the ...

* No. 41 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 52 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 56 Operational Training Unit RAF *

No. 57 Operational Training Unit RAF The numero sign or numero symbol, (also represented as Nº, No̱, No., or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, the ...

* No. 58 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 60 Operational Training Unit RAF * No. 61 Operational Training Unit RAF *

Central Flying School The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 at the Upavon Aerodrome, it is the longest existing flying training school in the world. The sch ...

, Royal Navy – about 200 Master Is transferred from the Royal Air Force. *

748 Naval Air Squadron 748 Naval Air Squadron (748 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was initially formed, at HMS ''Vulture'', RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron, before becoming No. 10 Naval Opera ...

* 759 Naval Air SquadronAmos 2012, pp. A28-A69 *

760 Naval Air Squadron 760 Naval Air Squadron (760 NAS) is a List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons, Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The squadron first formed in April 1940 as No.1 Fleet Fighter Pool with a variety of aircraft types before stan ...

761 Naval Air Squadron 761 Naval Air Squadron (761 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was formed at HMS ''Heron'', RNAS Yeovilton, as the Advanced Training Squadron of the Fleet Fighter School, in 1941. The ...

762 Naval Air Squadron 762 Naval Air Squadron (762 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It formed at HMS ''Heron'', RNAS Yeovilton, in March 1942 as an Advanced Flying Training School. Almost immediately the squa ...

780 Naval Air Squadron 780 Naval Air Squadron (780 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at HMS ''Seahawk'', RNAS Culdrose in November 1949. 780 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS ''Raven'', RNA ...

* 781 Naval Air Squadron * 785 Naval Air Squadron *

798 Naval Air Squadron 798 Naval Air Squadron (798 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in March 1946. It formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, (HMS ''Daedalus'') in October 1943, to provide advanced conv ...

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

– 44 Masters were loaned to the USAAF for communications duties and target tugs for use in the United Kingdom.Amos 2012, p. A231-A233

Specifications (M.19 Master Mk.II)

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

* Amos, Peter. "RAF Piston Trainer No. 10: Miles M.9A Master I". ''

Aeroplane Monthly ''Aeroplane'' (formerly ''Aeroplane Monthly'') is a British magazine devoted to aviation, with a focus on aviation history and preservation. __TOC__ ''Aeroplane Monthly'' Issue 1 of ''Aeroplane Monthly'' was published in May 1973 at a cov ...

'', August 1980, Vol. 8, No. 8. pp. 412–418. * Amos, Peter. "RAF Piston Trainer No. 10: Miles M.19 and M.27 Master II and III". ''

'', September 1980, Vol. 8, No. 9. pp. 460–464. * Amos, Peter and Don Lambert Brown. ''Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1''. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. . * * Brown, Don Lambert. ''Miles Aircraft Since 1925''. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. . * * * * Jefford, C.G. ''RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912''. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. . * * Lukins, A.H. and D.A. Russell. ''The Book of Miles Aircraft''. Leicester, UK: The Harborough Publishing Company Ltd., 1946. * March, Daniel M. ''British Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1998. . * Mondey, David. ''The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II''. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. . * Temple, Julian C. ''Wings Over Woodley – The Story of Miles Aircraft and the Adwest Group''. Bourne End, Bucks, UK: Aston Publications, 1987. . * *

External links

Austin & Longbridge Aircraft Production

{{Miles aircraft 1930s British military trainer aircraft

Master Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

Glider tugs Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1939 Inverted gull-wing aircraft Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft