David Vernon Wurst was born on December 20, 1918, in Ochlocknee, Thomas County, Georgia. He was the son of William Henry Wurst and Minnie Lee Giles. He was married to Alice Thompson Wurst. He served in the 452nd Bomber Squadron, 322nd Bomber Group, Medium, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-26B #41-17999 nicknamed ''Chickasaw Chief'' during World War II.

On the morning of 17 May 1943, eleven B-26 Marauder bombers of the 452nd Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, departed RAF Rougham, England, on a low-level mission to attack power facilities at Velsen and IJmuiden in the German-occupied Netherlands. The objective was to disrupt the electrical infrastructure supporting the German war effort. Shortly after takeoff, one aircraft was forced to return because of mechanical problems, leaving ten bombers to continue the mission. As the formation crossed the Dutch coast, it was detected by German radar and came under heavy attack from anti-aircraft defenses and fighter aircraft. The mission soon turned tragic. Two Marauders were shot down near Maassluis and Rozenburg, and at approximately 11:58 a.m., two others, B-26B 41-18080 (DR-K) and B-26B 41-17991 (DR-S), collided in mid-air over the Noordzijderpolder north of Bodegraven. Both aircraft disintegrated and crashed into nearby fields, resulting in the deaths of eight airmen and serious injuries to four others. Nearby was B-26B 41-17999 "Chickasaw Chief." During the collision, debris from the two stricken bombers struck the aircraft, causing substantial damage. Despite the situation, pilot 1st Lt. David V. Wurst successfully maintained control of the crippled Marauder and guided it toward open farmland near the hamlet of De Meije. There, he carried out a successful forced landing, allowing all six crew members to escape the aircraft alive. Although the crew survived the emergency landing, they were soon captured by German authorities and taken prisoner. They remained prisoners of war until the end of World War II.

1Lt Wurst was held at Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria. He ended his military service as a Captain. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocala, a member of the Ocala Elks Club, the Reserve Officers Association, and the Advisory Commission to the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. He also served as president of the Florida Seed and Garden Supply Dealers Association. He died on April 19, 1980, and is now buried in the Highland Memorial Park, Ocala, Marion County, Florida, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, en.wikipedia.org