Edgar Percival - First World War

First World War

After the declaration of war, Edgar Percival joined the 7th Australian Light Horse in 1915, being stationed in the Middle East, but by 1916 he transferred to the British Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC). After going solo in 20 minutes in 1917, he was assigned to a combat squadron in France flying fighters in Billy Bishop's No. 60 Squadron. Percival flew many sorties accompanying the Canadian ace. Noted for his flying skills, he was promoted to Captain, and later transferred to No. 11 Squadron as one of its founding members, seeing service in the Middle East and Greece. In 1918, while still in the services and posted to Egypt, Percival designed his first powered aircraft, "a special-purpose aircraft based on the Bristol F.2B, with the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine."