Donald Hurlburt was born in Chautauqua, New York, in 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on August 5, 1941, and after completing basic training he entered the Aviation Cadet Program. Hurlburt was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in June 1942. He was then assigned to the 358th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, from June to October 1942, and then joined the 258th Bomb Squadron of the 303rd Bomb Group at RAF Molesworth, England, where he flew B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. After his tour in Europe, Lt Hurlburt was assigned to Headquarters 1st Air Force at Mitchel Field, New York, followed by duty with the 1st Proving Ground Electronics Unit at Eglin Field, Florida. He was killed in the crash of an AT-18 at the Eglin Field Military Reservation on October 1, 1943. Donald Hurlburt was buried at the Panama Union Cemetery in Panama, New York. Hurlburt Field, near Eglin AFB, Florida, is named in his honor.