David Atkins Brough was born on 15 June 1914 at Pueblo, Colorado. He was appointed as a Naval Aviation Cadet, United States Naval Reserve in October 1939 and was appointed Ensign on 30 July 1940. At the beginning of World War II, Lieutenant (junior grade) Brough, attached to Patrol Squadron 42, flew scouting missions along the Alaskan Coast and participated in regular bombing raids on the Japanese held islands of Attu and Kiska. During June 1942, Brough participated in numerous bombing raids on Japanese shipping in Kiska Harbor, For this action he was recommended for the Air Medal. However, before the Air Medal could be presented to him he was killed in an airplane crash following a scouting mission. The Air Medal was presented posthumously to his sister, Miss Jack Bell.