20th Century

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Reading Aerodrome

Charles Powis, of the cycle company Phillips and Powis, bought land at Woodley and started an airfield. To begin with the airfield had a small hanger and repair shop with a flying school. In 1931 this became the Reading Aero Club. Two notable events happened here in 1931. Firstly, Amy Johnson took part in an air race, and secondly, Douglas Bader crashed his plane, hurting his legs so badly that they had to be amputated. He went on to become one of the best known pilots of World War 2.

In 1932 Phillips and Powis were joined by the aircraft designer FG Miles. The aircraft designed by Miles and built at the airfield soon became a common site on British airfields. The Miles Master plane was used to train pilots to fly Spitfires and Hurricane aircraft in the second World War. In 1939 a new factory was opened to build this plane. Over 5000 aircraft were built between 1938 and 1945, and many more repaired. The company was renamed Miles aircraft after its designer in 1943, and by that time employed more than 7000 people.

After the war Miles Aircraft found it difficult to sell planes and was taken over by another company, Handley Page. In 1962 plane making stopped at Woodley.