In 1940, rather than going into the infantry, Wilkinson began war work on the thermodynamics of explosions, ballistics, supersonic flow, and fragmentation of shells.
Sa 1940, sa halip na pagpunta sa hukbong-lakad, Wilkinson digmaan ay nagsimulang magtrabaho sa termodinamika ng explosions, ballistics, supersonic daloy, at piraso ng shells.