John was conscripted in 1953 and after doing his six months enlisted in the permanent RAAF. He spent the next 26 years working as an engine fitter, working on merlins, Pratt & Whitneys, Avon and Atar engines. He trained in Wagga Wagga and had postings in Richmond, Williamtown, Amberley as well as a posting to Vietnam in the mid 1960s. His final overseas posting was to Butterworth working on the Atar engines of the Mirage fighters. He speaks about his Vietnam posting.