Battledress blouse : Flight Lieutenant J M Pilcher, 455 Squadron, RAAF

Royal Australian Air Force blue wool serge battledress blouse with fold down collar and two pleated patch breast pockets with black plastic RAAF buttons. The blouse is fastened down the centre by three black plastic RAAF buttons, and at the throat by a plain black plastic button. The belted waist is gathered and adjusted by three similar plain black plastic buttons. The cuffs of the sleeves are fastened by concealed buttons. The blouse also has a strap on each shoulder, bearing the rank stripes of a Flight Lieutenant, secured by a black plastic button. Above the left hand breast pocket is a pair of machine embroidered RAAF pilot's wings. The inside of the blouse is lined with black cotton, while the sleeves are lined with a grey and blue striped ticking. The cuffs and shoulder straps are lined with navy blue polished cotton. A white cotton label stitched inside the collar reads 'M.TX SIZE 22', and there is a laundry marking in green cotton to the left of this. A white stamp inside the rear lining reads 'RAAF' followed by some indecipherable numbers.

Australian made RAAF battledress blouse worn by Flight Lieutenant (later Squadron Leader) John Milton Pilcher, DFC and Bar, of 455 Squadron, RAAF. Pilcher was born in Burwood, NSW, in 1912, and joined the RAAF for pilot training in November 1940 with the service number 402880. He had already completed a tour of operations before joining 455 (Beaufighter) Squadron as a deputy flight commander in early 1944, and went on to become one of that unit's most distinguished and successful leaders. In June 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership and gallantry in a hazardous series of anti-shipping strikes. As a squadron leader in February 1945, by which time he was often leading the entire Dallachy Strike Wing, (of which 455 Squadron formed a part) he received a Bar to the DFC. John Pilcher was discharged from the RAAF in February 1946, and later settled in Inverell, NSW.