Reynold Francis Wilson was born on August 24, 1918, in Saint Anthony, Fremont County, Idaho. He was the son of George Richard Wilson and Estella Dorcus Jeffs Wilson. He was married to Wanda Wave Hamner Tammen. He served in the 326th Ferry Squadron, 1st Air Transport Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of P-38 Lightning J-15-DS #43-28793 during World War II.

On May 6, 1945, the aircraft crashed during a transition flight from Advanced Landing Ground A-81 in Creil, located in the Oise department of France. Shortly after takeoff, it encountered engine trouble, with the left engine trailing smoke that quickly burst into flames. Although the aircraft managed to lift off, the landing gear was never retracted, and there was no attempt to feather the propeller. As it climbed and began a left turn over a wooded hill, the aircraft rolled onto its back and crashed at 15:40, exploding on impact.

2Lt Wilson was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: http://francecrashes39-45.net/