Flight Lieutenant Raymond Waller Nowland enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 11 November 1940. He undertook his flying training in Western Australia, and went on to complete his operation training in the United Kingdom. Flight Lieutenant Nowland went on to serve as a pilot with 84 Squadron, based in India. With his squadron, Flight Lieutenant Nowland participated in aerial operations targeting Japanese positions in Burma and Thailand. He was also attached to 1579 Calibration Flight for several months. Flight Lieutenant Nowland was discharged on 15 January 1946.