Why does the author wait until the end of the novel to reveal the pilot's name?

The reader only learns Peter Williamson’s name at the end of the story. For the rest of the story, the reader only knows him as ‘the pilot.’ It could be argued that the fact that the pilot remains nameless for most of the story is a commentary on the fact that war takes away the soldiers’ individuality. Thus, the protagonist is portrayed as having no autonomy. Thus, when the reader learns the pilot’s name on page 310, the reader learns that the pilot has reclaimed his autonomy and identity.