In the early days of the Battle of Britain, many flights of Heinkels and Junkers cruised over and near Reading Aerodrome practically unopposed, and the possibility of a shortage of R.A.F. machines fired Mr. Miles with the determination to design a "utility" fighter aircraft, capable of a high rate of production, so that we should never be short of fighter squadrons.
This decision called for speedy action and, with the official help of the dynamic Lord Beaverbrook, then Minister for Aircraft Production, the work proceeded at such a pace that the prototype M.20 Fighter took to the air in just nine weeks and two days from the conception of the idea.
Standard Master parts were used at all possible points, hydraulics were eliminated and a fixed undercarriage fitted, while the special domed cabin top provided a far better view than that of any fighter then in service.
This all-wood 12 gun fighter compared favourably with the contemporary Spitfires and Hurricanes, coming between them in the speed scale, but carrying more ammunition and having a greater range of action than either.
As the Battle of Britain was won by the time the M.20 was ready, the type did not go into production.