
He joined the Navy in April 1953 and after the usual lead-up training, graduated from Number 14 Pilots Course in 1954, one of six Navy graduates in a course of nine.
Operationally he flew Gannets until 1962/3 when, along with others, he was offered early retirement due to uncertainty surrounding the future of fixed wing flying in the Navy and he joined QANTAS.
On retiring from the airline, Doug settled to the west of Sydney.
A private funeral was conducted.