Gill Robb Wilson Gill Robb Wilson ( September 18 , 1892 – September 8 , 1966 ) was an American pilot , Presbyterian minister , and military advocate . Early life . Wilson was born in Clarion County , Pennsylvania to the Rev . Gill Irwin Wilson and Amanda E . Robb , on September 18 , 1892 . World War I . Motivated by youthful idealism and a deep sense of responsibility , Gill Robb and his brother Volney travelled to France to assist the Allied war effort . After initially driving ambulances he became a member of the Lafayette Flying Corps ( not the Lafayette Escadrille ) . His service for the French was with French Escadrille Br . 117 during World War I . The Ministry . A son of a Presbyterian minister , Gill Robb Wilson followed in his father ' s footsteps after the Great War . He attended seminary in Pittsburgh and was ordained into a forerunner of the current Presbyterian Church , ( USA ) . During his upbringing and training for the ministry , Gill Robb acquired an accomplished skill with the spoken and written word . This training would serve him well in later years . He was installed as Pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Trenton , New Jersey . During this pastorate ( in 1927 ) , Gill Robb Wilson was named Chaplain of the American Legion . After the death of his first wife and second child , he suffered the loss of his voice . Doctors required complete silence if his voice was to have the chance of ever coming back . It was at this point that he left the leadership of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Trenton where he had enjoyed a fruitful ministry . Professional Life . Drawing upon his extensive experience in aviation and good standing in Trenton , New Jersey , the Hon . Gill Robb Wilson became Director of Aeronautics for the State of New Jersey in 1930 . As such , he shared in oversight of the Lakehurst landing field and participated as a member of the Inquiry Board ( appointed by the U . S . Secretary of Commerce ) related to the crash of the zeppelin Hindenburg . He saw a need and imagined the possibilities for aviation in America . Crucial to those possibilities was the Civil Air Patrol . He promoted and fostered that dream , becoming the first director of the Civil Air Patrol . In 1939 he became the very first member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association ( AOPA ) which is now the world ' s largest General Aviation Association with approximately 400 , 000 members . He also served as the editor of AOPA ' s first publication . He witnessed the test of the atomic bomb on Bikini Island . It is likely after effects of this event contributed to illness that later led to his death . Writing career . Combining his love of aviation and skill with the pen , Gill Robb Wilson was an early editor of Flying Magazine . In World War II , he was a correspondent for the Herald Tribune . Wilson was also the author of a book of poetry , which included some pieces on World War I aviation , and the autobiographical work , I Walked with Giants , Vantage Press , 1968 . Family Facts . Gill Robb Wilson was married to Margaret Perrine and had a bright and creative daughter , Margaret Robb Wilson . His first wife , Margaret Perrine Wilson , succumbed to the influenza epidemic while she was pregnant with their second daughter . He married his second wife , Mary Josephine Clary , on April 28 , 1931 in Parkersburg , West Virginia . Gill Robb Wilson died in Los Angeles County , California . He is greatly honored by the CAP California Wing each Memorial Day .