Maxine Blossom Miles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maxine "Blossom" Miles
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Blossom aged 9 by Frederic Yates
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Maxine Frances Mary Forbes-Robertson
22 September 1901 Blackheath, Kent, England
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| Died | 6 April 1984 (aged 82) Worthing
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| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Blossom / Maxine Freeman-Thomas / Maxine Miles |
| Occupation | Aircraft designer |
| Known for | Aviator, socialite, businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) | Inigo Freeman-Thomas; Frederick George Miles |
| Children | Jeremy John Miles, Mary Miles |
Maxine "Blossom" Miles, born on September 22, 1901, as Maxine Forbes-Robertson, was a British aviation engineer, socialite, and businesswoman. She was born into a well-known family of actors. Maxine became interested in aviation in the 1920s. She later married her flight instructor, Frederick George Miles. Together, they founded Miles Aircraft Ltd. At this company, she worked as a draughtswoman and an aircraft designer.
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Early Life and Family
Maxine Forbes-Robertson was born on September 22, 1901. Her parents, Johnston Forbes-Robertson and Gertrude Elliott, were famous actors. Her father was very well-known, and their family was an important part of London society. Maxine was called "Blossom" by her family. She had a good upbringing that helped her develop her intellectual, sports, and artistic skills. She even appeared on the London stage with her family sometimes.
Maxine spent her early years with her sisters, Jean, Chloe, and Diana. They lived at Hartsbourne Manor, which was the home of her aunt, Maxine Elliott. A part of this large house was used only by Maxine's parents. The Forbes-Robertsons also had a main family home in London at 22 Bedford Square.
In 1919, Maxine was presented as a debutante alongside Barbara Cartland. This meant she was formally introduced to society. Maxine was also known as a "bright young thing." She organized fun "treasure hunt" parties across London with friends like Lady Diana Cooper and Elsa Maxwell.
Maxine's Marriages
On October 8, 1924, Maxine married Inigo Freeman-Thomas. He was the son of Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon. After their marriage, her name became Freeman-Thomas. Her aunt, Maxine Elliott, gave the couple a large sum of money. They lived for a while in her aunt's home in Regents Park.
In 1931, Maxine and Inigo were having a special airplane built at Shoreham Airport. They planned to fly to India, where Inigo's father had been appointed Viceroy, a high-ranking official. However, their marriage ended, and they divorced in 1932.
Both Maxine and Inigo were members of the Southern Aero Club in Shoreham. This is where Frederick George Miles worked as a director and flight instructor. Soon after her divorce, Maxine and Frederick Miles were married.
Aviation Achievements
Maxine earned her aviation certificate (Royal Aero Club certificate 9585) through the Southern Aero Club. One of the first airplanes she owned was a De Havilland DH.60X Cirrus Moth. She bought it in 1928 after it had been damaged and rebuilt. She named this plane "Jemimah."
One of the most famous aircraft Blossom helped design was the Miles Sparrowhawk. In 1935, F. G. Miles decided to enter the King’s Cup Air Race. Maxine had only eight weeks to create a suitable airplane for the race. She took a Miles Hawk and made many changes to it. She shortened its body, made it more aerodynamic, and reduced its wingspan. She also changed the landing gear and added extra fuel tanks. These changes allowed the plane to complete the long 953-mile race with only one stop for fuel.
The Miles Trio, which included George, Fred, and Blossom, designed many planes used by the RAF. These included the Miles Hawk and Miles Master. Both of these planes were used to train pilots for famous fighter planes like the Hurricane and Spitfire.
Leadership and Contributions
Maxine (Blossom) was a director at Phillip and Powis Aircraft Ltd. Later, when her husband and brother-in-law bought that company, she became a shareholder of Miles Aircraft Ltd. At the Miles company, Blossom Miles worked as a draughtswoman. She also managed social and welfare issues for the company's many employees. In 1943, The Miles Aeronautical Technical School opened under her leadership.
She designed the Miles Hawk G-ACIZ aircraft. This plane was flown by Gabrielle Patterson in the King's Cup air race in 1934. Gabrielle Patterson was Britain's first woman flying instructor. She was also one of the first eight women pilots in the Air Transport Auxiliary.
In July 1938, Maxine served as one of five commissioners for the Civil Air Guard. This group was created to encourage and support pilot training. It offered subsidized training through civilian flying clubs. In return, members promised to serve in the Royal Air Force Reserve if there was an emergency.
In 1942, Blossom was a guest speaker at the Women's Engineering Society's Annual Dinner. She spoke about "Women in the Drawing Office." Her talk was based on her own experiences in aircraft engineering. She also shared how she trained other women in this field during World War Two. Seven hundred women applied for the first 16 training spots at Phillip and Powis Aircraft Ltd. These spots were part of the effort to support the war. Gertrude Entwistle, who was the President of the Women’s Engineering Society, said they were "proud to count Mrs Miles a member."
