David Burke was born in Sarnia on October 12, 1918, the son of Captain David Wilson and Ethel Ellen Burke, of Hamilton, Ontario. He received his education in a Sarnia public elementary school and Sarnia Collegiate High School. David was a member of the Central Century Club and had played hockey for the club. While at high school, he played junior and senior WOSSA rugby and City League hockey. He was also fond of swimming and skating. After graduating from a technical program at Sarnia Collegiate, he attended the Radio College of Canada in Toronto, as he was very interested in amateur radio. While schooling in Toronto, David took some flying lessons. Following his studies, he received an Amateur Radio Certificate and was employed by Trans-Canada Air Lines prior to joining the Air Force. His residential address was 145 N. Euphemia Street, Sarnia.

David, single at the time, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on February 2, 1940, and after taking a short course he was posted to No. 1 Wireless School, Montreal, as an instructor for about one and a half years. David was transferred to the wireless school in Winnipeg and then he remustered to aircrew in February 1942. He had his initial training at Regina, his elementary training at Fort William, and his service flying at Uplands, where he received his Pilot Wings on December 16, 1942. David went overseas in January 1943 and took his operational training in England and Scotland. He became a member of RCAF #640 Squadron, piloting Halifax bomber aircraft LW500 and making quite a number of trips over Germany.

On March 31, 1944, David was part of a crew aboard their Halifax bomber on a bombing raid over Nuremburg, Germany. Following the raid, the aircraft was shot down by a German flak ship off Dieppe, France. David Burke along with the crew of six RAF members were listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). This was Pilot Officer-Pilot David Burke’s fourth operation and his was one of 108 Allied aircraft lost this night. Twenty-five year old Pilot Officer-Pilot David Burke has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 249.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, S, 2C, 2D