John N. Reilly, Jr. was born on January 12, 1943. He attended Essex Catholic High School in Newark, NJ. A 1965 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Reilly later joined the US Air Force in 1966, from Spring Lake, NJ. He was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing Officer Training School. A year later he received his pilot wings. Reilly attained the rank of Captain (CAPT).
Reilly was sent to Vietnam and based in Da Nang, flying over 80 missions. He had been stationed with the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Reilly was killed in action on November 19, 1968, at the age of 25. Reilly, who flew an F4D Phantom jet, died when his plane crashed. He was survived by his wife Elaine and their son Brian. Reilly is buried at Maryrest Cemetery in Darlington, NJ.
The following is an excerpt from The Record dated Monday, January 29, 1973:
First Lt. John N. Reilly never got to see his son. Lt. Reilly was in Vietnam flying fighter-bomber missions, in October 1968 when his son was born. A month later, Lt. Reilly was reported missing when the F4D fighter he was piloting went down. Another month later, his death was confirmed. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. After college he entered Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Upon completion of his pilot training in July 1967, he married Elaine Machkin of Rutherford. “He always wanted to be the best,” his wife said, shortly after learning of his death.
Sources: Wife, Newspaper clippings, The Record, and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
