Could this be the only Surviving Bit? Miles Martinet M.37

Hi AA

Interesting what you say about the Gloucester Aviation Club – they also acquired a Whitley post war! Do you have any contacts who might know about this?

Did they pick up any other surplus wartime aircraft?

Regards

No. Sorry. My information is all library/archive sourced.

This thread rang a few bells with me as I used to live very near Staverton airfield and had heard stories about a Miles Master or Martinet being discovered lying in a hedge in the 50’s.

It was actually Peter Amos who corrected the details when I asked about it back in 2005:

On a side note, if anyone does have current contact details for Peter could you PM them to me? I’ve been trying to get ahold of him since November last year without any luck.

I’ll send you a PM

There is an uncredited photo of JN668 in British Civil Aircraft 1919-72 (Putnam 1974) and a Miles Aircraft photo of the cockpit of a M.38 in Miles Aircraft since 1925 (Putnam 1970). I have scanned and attached these. Aplogies for the quality!

I doubt if there are any photos of the second M.38 carrying the markings G-AKOS. As it was not converted for civil use, in all probability it never carried civil markings. I suspect that G-AKOS never was more than a registration allocation.

Rocketeer. Can you remember what of the M.38 existed in the Cheltenham scrapyard when you acquired your panels? Was it just the two panels or was there more of the aeroplane present? Also can anyone suggest why parts of the airframe moved from the Staverton orchard to a scrapyard whilst the engine and propellor was left there? Can anyone elaborate on the post 1949 history of JN668/G-AKOS?

That is exactly the panel I have! many thanx to Peter on pm and you all.
Now modellers you have a paint chip for proto yellow and wehave a cracking exhibit!

I may be wrong but my theory is that the panels, being relatively light and easily movable, went but the engine and prop were too heavy a lump to move single handed. Probably way off the mark but worth a guess. I’d say that it was then probably a single person operation to move the bits to the scrappy.

I wonder if any photos of G-AKOS survive?

There is an uncredited photo of JN668 in British Civil Aircraft 1919-72 (Putnam 1974) and a Miles Aircraft photo of the cockpit of a M.38 in Miles Aircraft since 1925 (Putnam 1970). I have scanned and attached these. Aplogies for the quality!

I doubt if there are any photos of the second M.38 carrying the markings G-AKOS. As it was not converted for civil use, in all probability it never carried civil markings. I suspect that G-AKOS never was more than a registration allocation.

Rocketeer. Can you remember what of the M.38 existed in the Cheltenham scrapyard when you acquired your panels? Was it just the two panels or was there more of the aeroplane present? Also can anyone suggest why parts of the airframe moved from the Staverton orchard to a scrapyard whilst the engine and propellor was left there? Can anyone elaborate on the post 1949 history of JN668/G-AKOS?

This thread rang a few bells with me as I used to live very near Staverton airfield and had heard stories about a Miles Master or Martinet being discovered lying in a hedge in the 50’s.

It was actually Peter Amos who corrected the details when I asked about it back in 2005:

The famous ‘remains’ in the orchard at Cheltenham were of the 2nd prototype
Miles M.37 Martinet Trainer s/n JN668. This was delivered to Staverton for
the Gloster Flying Club in 1947/8 but was never used and eventually found
its way to the orchard where it quiety rotted away until only the engine and
propeller remained. These are now with The Museum of Berkshire Aviation at
Woodley

On a side note, if anyone does have current contact details for Peter could you PM them to me? I’ve been trying to get ahold of him since November last year without any luck.

Hi AA

Interesting what you say about the Gloucester Aviation Club – they also acquired a Whitley post war! Do you have any contacts who might know about this?

Did they pick up any other surplus wartime aircraft?

Regards

Rocketeer

Where was the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains? It would be very interesting if it was in the Cheltenham area. The second prototype Martinet Trainer – JN668/G-AKOS – was acquired by the Gloucester Flying Club in 1947 but was never converted for civil use. It languished in an orchard outside Staverton aerodrome from 1949 until, at least, 1963 (q.v. W&R editions 1 & 2). As far as I am aware, nothing more was heard of it subsequently. Perhaps it was removed to the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains. Was what you acquired all that there was – of this aeroplane – in the scrapyard? It would be interesting if you could expand upon the circumstances of your acquisition 20 plus years ago.

The person who might best be able to help you is Peter Amos. if you are interested in contacting him, send me a PM and I’ll let you have his contact details.

FlyPast did a article on the Master project with the Berkshire group in 1983 which went into detail on the construction and parts surviving from the type.
Jump to 1984 and there is a picture of the Master trainer circa 1948 in about the June issue. This was at the time of the discovery of it’s engine and propeller in the Cheltenham area.

Hi Tony
I know it is probably the ‘other’ a/c (JN275) but there is a photo of an M37 on the museum of berkshire aviation website,go to gallery 2

http://www.museumofberkshireaviation.co.uk/

also some great pics of their martinet restoration

cheers baz

Just looked on the web and apparently there is a photo in an Air Britain Magazine No.2 1990…..dont suppose anyone has a copy?!

Rocketeer

Where was the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains? It would be very interesting if it was in the Cheltenham area. The second prototype Martinet Trainer – JN668/G-AKOS – was acquired by the Gloucester Flying Club in 1947 but was never converted for civil use. It languished in an orchard outside Staverton aerodrome from 1949 until, at least, 1963 (q.v. W&R editions 1 & 2). As far as I am aware, nothing more was heard of it subsequently. Perhaps it was removed to the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains. Was what you acquired all that there was – of this aeroplane – in the scrapyard? It would be interesting if you could expand upon the circumstances of your acquisition 20 plus years ago.

The person who might best be able to help you is Peter Amos. if you are interested in contacting him, send me a PM and I’ll let you have his contact details.

I was only young at the time and yes it came from a yard in the Cheltenham area…it was cheap IIRC, and I was intrigued by the yellow and part of the P for prototype marking. I am delighted with your info. It looks like the panel just under the rear canopy on the port side. I only acquired this part and a rail. I cannot remember much about the visit sadly other than there was other aircraft stuff but not much recognisable to my young eyes. I shall have a chat to my friends who would have had to have driven me there at the time. We visited several yards then including one at Bloxham….but I must admit I thought the yard was in a built up area. I wonder if any photos of G-AKOS survive?

Rocketeer

Where was the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains? It would be very interesting if it was in the Cheltenham area. The second prototype Martinet Trainer – JN668/G-AKOS – was acquired by the Gloucester Flying Club in 1947 but was never converted for civil use. It languished in an orchard outside Staverton aerodrome from 1949 until, at least, 1963 (q.v. W&R editions 1 & 2). As far as I am aware, nothing more was heard of it subsequently. Perhaps it was removed to the scrapyard from which you acquired the remains. Was what you acquired all that there was – of this aeroplane – in the scrapyard? It would be interesting if you could expand upon the circumstances of your acquisition 20 plus years ago.

The person who might best be able to help you is Peter Amos. if you are interested in contacting him, send me a PM and I’ll let you have his contact details.