Graham Leggett

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Percival Graham Leggett
Born14 February 1921
Died26 May 2013 (aged 92)
Allegiance 
Squadron Leader

Percival Graham Leggett (14 February 1921 – 26 May 2013)[1] was a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force and was one of the youngest pilots to survive the Battle of Britain during World War II.

Leggett joined the

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1939 as an Airman under training Pilot. He was called up for active duty on 1 September 1939 and he completed his training and arrived at No.5 OTU at Aston Down in September 1940. On 18 September he crashed at Oldbury-on-Severn
, Gloucestershire but was unhurt.

Leggett was posted to

RAF Aldergrove on 28 September and then to No. 46 Squadron RAF at RAF Stapleford on 18 October 1940.[2]

He claimed a

Macchi C.200
on 17 July. He was shot down by enemy fighters on 21 December 1941, baled out and was admitted to hospital with slight abrasions. He then joined No. 73 Squadron in North Africa in October 1942, until August 1943.

On return to the UK he became Adjutant at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsay, after which he served in Ceylon. In 1949 he became CO of 32 squadron, flying de Havilland Vampires from Cyprus. Graham Leggett retired from the RAF on 23 May 1958 holding the rank of

Squadron Leader
.

Leggett died peacefully on 26 May 2013 at the age of 92. His funeral, held on 12 June, was attended by Air Vice Marshal Carl Dixon CB, OBE, who was representing the Prince of Wales. RAF

Air Chief Marshal Stephen Dalton
sent a letter of condolence to Leggett's wife and their family.

References

  1. ^ Seymour, Jenny (16 June 2013). "Reigate Battle of Britain pilot dies, aged 92 | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Graham Leggett". Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.