Bust-length portrait of Flying Officer Edgar John Wilcox, circa 1940

Edgar Wilcox was born in 1917 and educated at Winton House School and Croydon High School. He joined the RAF in 1937 and after completing his flying training was posted No. 72 Squadron in July 1938.

He participated in fighter operations over Dunkirk where he claimed the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 87, he then flew during the Battle of Britain and was shot down and killed on 31 August 1940 when No. 72 Squadron intercepted a formation of approximately 160 enemy aircraft over Dungeness. He was 23 years old.