David was the son of Samuel and Deborah née Goodman of Tottenham, London who were both born in Poland. David’s father Samuel worked as a master table maker. David had four older siblings, Percy, Hilda, Charles and Marcus.

David was the navigator on Halifax HR697 which departed from RAF Melbourne on a night operation to Cologne. The aircraft was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Johannes Hager of the 4./NJG 1, flying Bf 110 G-4 G9+CC from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield, Belgium.

Crew:
Pilot, P/O. R.H. Geddes, RAAF, 401939
Co-Pilot Sgt. R.S. White, 1388298
F/E, P/O. H.E. Cross, 143801
Nav, Sgt. D. Brown, 1386316
Bomb aimer P/O. R.E. Bradshaw, 148755
W/Op A/G, F/Sgt. C. Entwistle, 1113359
A/G, Sgt. A.W. Booth, 1424526
Air gunner Sgt. R. Shannon, RAAF, 411231, Survived POW Stalag Luft L6