Miles aircraft shot down by RAF fighter

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have recently come across a form of obit that mentioned the shooting down of a Miles prototype aircraft - type unknown but carrying the letter P in a circle - flown by George Miles (the designer and test pilot) that was shot down by an RAF fighter. This is completely 'new' to me but I feel certain someone has the full story to enlighten me.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

[Brian]

Hi guys

No news re the above as yet, but I have noted the following: The Miles Monitor prototype NF900 crashed sometime in 1944; The Miles Messenger prototype U-0223 crashed at Hendon in June 1944 (although its first flight was 12/9/42). Could either of these be the machine in question?

Cheers
Brian

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

I have tried to look for a good candidate and checked the following prototypes
M.20 None of the prototypes reported as shot down
M.25 Nothing
M.28 Nothing
M.33 Nothing
M.35 Nothing
M.37 Nothing
M.38 Nothing
M.39B Nothing

Both the Messenger and the Monitor crashes you mention was NOT due to any RAF action and none at the time was flown by Miles himself.

Many of these prototypes had mishaps and write offs but none due to any RAF interference. Of course it could have been during testing of a production machine, but they did not carry any P in a ring...

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

The Putnam book on Miles Aircraft has no mention of any such incident. It was written by Don Brown, who was intimately involved with the company at the time and surely would not have failed to note the event.

[Brian]

Thanks Graham - this obviously requires further research!

Cheers
Brian