The Percival Proctor was a development of the pre-war Gull. The prototype D.1 Gull (G-ABUR) , a three seat tourer first appeared in 1932. This was followed by the D.2 which was more commonly known as the Gull IV. In 1934 Percival introduced the D.3 Gull Six which featured the DH Gipsy Six engine, improved undercarriage and cabin arrangements, but retained the Gull IV folding wing. In November 1935 the four seat K.1 Vega Gull was introduced. Powered by the same DH Gipsy Six engine this introduced dual controls and flaps, and was very successful with 90 being produced up till July 1939.

It was in a Gull, G-ADPR that New Zealand Aviatrix Jean Batten set many of her records.

The Proctor was initially a military variant of the Vega Gull with seating reduced to three. It was primarily used for training and communication work by the RAF, FAA, and Air Transport Auxiliary. The Proctor I was a communications model, and the naval version carried a radio operator in the rear. The Proctor II was used by the FAA with the radio operator alongside the pilot. The Proctor III series one was used by the RAF as a three seat communications aircraft , and the series two as a two seat radio trainer. The Proctor IV was a substantial redesign returning to a four seater, involving a longer deeper cabin (and was initially to be renamed the Precepter). The aircraft was utilised as a three seat radio trainer, or four seat communications aircraft. The Proctor V is a civil version of the Proctor IV. Production amounted to 247 Mk.I, 175 Mk.II, 437 Mk.III, 258 MK.IV, and 150 Mk.V. A single Proctor 6 floatplane was produced in 1946 for the Hudson Bay Company.

Post war several hundred military Proctors were released for civilian purchase, including FAA aircraft P6034 (later became G-AHDK/OO-AVG) and Z7251 (became G-AIRF), and along with the Proctor V were a popular aircraft up until the 1960's. Several aircraft were then lost to the failure of glue joints. As a primarily wooden aircraft utilising casein glues, the costs of maintaining the certificates of airworthiness meant that from that time any aircraft were withdrawn from use.