Brian James Hurt was born on June 15, 1920, in Sanford, Seminole County, Florida. He was the son of Jennings Laverne Hurt Sr. Before entering military service, he worked for the State Road Department and earned a scholarship to the University of Florida College of Engineering. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942 and completed training in flexible gunnery at Fort Myers, Florida, where he prepared for heavy bomber combat duty overseas. He served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-24 #44-10511 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J Liberator #44-10511 of the U.S. Army Air Forces, operating with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater, was lost during a combat mission over German-controlled territory. The aircraft was part of a heavy bomber formation dispatched from its base in England to strike strategic industrial and military targets in Germany. During the mission, the formation encountered intense German air defenses, including fighter interception and anti-aircraft fire. Sustaining severe combat damage, the bomber was shot down and crashed in enemy territory. Following the crash, members of the crew were reported killed, missing, or captured.

SSgt Hurt was killed in action and is now buried in the All Souls Catholic Cemetery, Sanford, Seminole County, Florida, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, U.S. National Archives Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)