 The Australian Flying Corps ( AFC ) was formed in March 1914 and it was soon deployed to German New Guinea , with one BE2c aircraft and crew dispatched with the AN & MEF , although the colonies surrendered before the plane was even unpacked . The first operational flights did not occur until 27 May 1915 , when the Mesopotamian Half Flight was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq . The Corps later saw action in Egypt , Palestine and on the Western Front throughout the remainder of the war . Organised into four operational squadrons in France and the Middle East and another four training squadrons in England , the AFC remained part of the AIF . 
