John Clifford Peel (15 April 1894 - 19 September 1918) was an Australian pilot who served in the Australian Flying Corps during World War I and was credited with helping to establish the Royal Flying Doctor Service, writing a letter to John Flynn regarding the use of aviation as a way of providing medicine in the outback. His idea was only used after he died in France at the age of 24, while serving with No. 3 Squadron AFC.
Peel was born at Inverleigh, Victoria, on 15 April 1894. He attended Inverleigh State School, Geelong High School and Ormond College and trained as a wool classifer before becoming a medical student. He served in the Citizen Military Forces for four years, serving in the Melbourne University Rifles, before volunteering for overseas service and enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 16 October 1917. Peel was commissioned into the Australian Flying Corps as a second lieutenant, and embarked on HMAT Nestor in November 1917. Posted to No. 3 Squadron AFC, he went missing on a patrol on 19 September 1918. He was subsequently declared killed in action. He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial, at Villers-Bretonneux, in France. He was promoted to honorary lieutenant following his death.
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