Miles Aircraft – The Wartime Years Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

The title Miles Aircraft – The Wartime Years says it all.  This terrific tome starts where Peter Amos' first volume ends – at the beginning of World War II.

Spanning 432 pithy pages and 49 chunky chapters, the incredibly comprehensive contents course through all Miles plans, projects and production through 1945.

And it seamlessly segues from the equally encyclopedic Miles Aircraft – The Early Years.

Turn to Chapter 4 for details of the legendary M.9 Master Mk.I – and the fascinating "Peregrine Fighter" derivative.  Scurry a section more to the M.14A Magister.  And there you'll find a 1940 anti-invasion, attack version with 25 lb bombs!

One chapter later, we rejoin the Master saga with coverage of the M.19, M.27 and, intriguingly, "Mercury Fighter" variants.  Look for another close-support experiment with six rocket projectiles.  Then Chapter 7 continues with South African Miles Masters in the Commonwealth's "Joint Air Training Scheme/Plan".

My favorite parts follow.  Chapter 8 describes the lush, racer-like M.20 fighter.  And Chapter 9 tackles the M.24 6-gun "Master Fighter" – which actually achieved limited production.

And so on – right through every Miles wartime effort.  Like the sleek M.22 twin engine, Pond-Racer-like fighter.  And all Miles Libellula schemes – the latter including a bizarre bomber study resembling a Short Stirling on steroids!

AIR-BRITAIN members like me can snag this cool compendium for £34.95 – about US$53.00 at current exchange.  And that includes a CD with 400 more pages of appendices.  Look for a review of the printed version shortly.  Non-members pay more.  So check AIR-BRITAIN's site for details.

What a wild ride!  Like its companion volume, Miles Aircraft – The Wartime Years is worth every penny, pence and Pfennig.

Robustly recommended!