Zilly is a World War I Flying Ace, though it is clear that he would rather be anywhere than in the sky. As a Vulture Squadron member, it is his duty to fly in his plane and stop Yankee Doodle Pigeon from delivering messages to and from the enemy. Zilly describes himself as a chicken and a coward, due to his fear of flying. Whenever his superior, Dick Dastardly, would tell him, Klunk and Muttley to get into their planes, or whenever he says one of Klunk's inventions intimidates him, Zilly would always try to sneak his way out of going back into the skies, but almost every time, Muttley forces him to fly with the squadron anyway. The only time in the series where Zilly actually gets out of flying is in the episode "Movies Are Badder Than Ever".