Squadron Leader John Milton Pilcher enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, in Sydney, New South Wales on 11 November 1940. He completed flying training in New South Wales, Australia, from 9 January to 17 April 1941. He was then posted to Calgary, Canada, where he underwent further flight training on 24 July. From August 1941 he was posted to Scotland and England, completing operational training with No 27 Operational Training Unit. Squadron Leader Pilcher served with 458 Squadron from 2 January 1942, and 70 Squadron in Gibraltar, Malta and Egypt from March to April 1943. He was then transferred to Scotland to serve with 455 Squadron until 31 March 1945. It was during this time that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for ‘courage and devotion to duty in flying operations against the enemy’. Following the end of the war in June 1945, he was posted to the RAAF headquarters in London, England. He returned to Melbourne 3 January 1946. Squadron Leader Milton was discharged on 25 February 1946.