David was looking for submarines in Africa when he seems to have vaporized.

David Bernard McQuillen was born about 1922 in the Monterey Bay area. He was the son of Captain Peter L. and Merle McQuillen. Following his father's retirement after serving at the Presidio of Monterey, the McQuillen family continued to live in Watsonville. David attended local schools and about 1936 enrolled in Watsonville High School.

About 1942 David McQuillen enlisted in the US Navy and following boot camp, was assigned to the naval aviation section and sent to radio school. Upon graduation he became a radioman and top turret gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator. McQuillen's unit served in the South Atlantic area and was engaged in patrolling the coast of Africa searching for enemy submarines.

In December 1943, the navy informed the McQuillen family that their son was missing. David's mother wrote for additional information surrounding the "missing status" of her son and in February, received the following reply:

“I am able at this time to give you the following additional information on your son's case. He was a radioman aboard a large navy bomber. During the flight in question the plane was engaged in patrol against enemy submarines off the coast of Africa. The plane failed to land at its base upon completion of this flight. Exhaustive search of the area in which the plane was known to be has failed to locate the plane or your son.”

The US Navy later officially listed Aviation Radioman Third Class David Bernard McQuillen as "Lost at Sea" on November 30, 1943.

(WRP December 30, 1943 1:1, February 9, 1944 1:1; ACGEN;)