Lt. Don Worsley volunteered in San Francisco on March 2, 1942 at the age of 19. He was a student at Marin College. He completed Pre-Flight Bombing Training in Santa Ana in May 1942 and began Advanced Bomb Training in Victorville, CA, graduating in Class 42-11.

*He was an exceptional mathematician and excelled on the Norden Bombsight instrument. He began flying B-17 bombing missions in late 1942 when German forces were at their optimum and there were no escorts. His missions incurred heavy losses. All but one of his missions endured German fighter plane attacks.

*A bullet lodged an inch from his heart between his flak jacket and his harness on April 4, 1943 aboard the B-17 Rigor Mortis, while in a fire fight with German fighters. Worsley's jacket was in flames. He extinguished the fire, sustaining burns, and continued to return fire from his Bombardier deck. A week later his luck ran out.

*On April 16, 1943, after successfully dropping his bombs on U Boats docked at Lorient, France, his plane was attacked by numerous German fighters, killing pilot/Lt. Lawrence "Larry" Leach; Sgt. David M. Bogdan (Engineer); Sgt. Jimmy H. Smith (Gunner); Sgt. Floyd M. Williamson (Gunner); and Sgt. John Toth, Jr. (Gunner).

*Lt. Worsley parachuted last and was shot 3 times on the way to the ground. He evaded capture for a few hours, but was subsequently taken by the German ground forces. He survived his gun shot wounds and was missing in action for 45 days and assumed killed. The Red Cross received information of his survival and his transport to Stalag Luft III, where he was a prisoner of war until January 27, 1945. The Germans marched the American and British prisoners for days through sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow to Mooseberg, where they were ultimately liberated on April 29, 1945. While in prison, Worsley re-united with fellow crew members Voyle Spence and Homer Anderson. Worsley was also acquainted with the escape tunnels dug at Stalag Luft III and assisted in various ways.

*After returning to the states, Lt. Worsley married Eleanor Mendell, MD in Kentfield, California. Dr. Eleanor Worsley became the first female medical doctor in the state of Louisiana where she and Lt. Worsley made their home until his death in 1971. Lt. Worsley owned the Borden Milk Company in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Lt. Worsley has one daughter, Desiree Worsley Moreland of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and one grandson, Brian Gossett of Memphis, Tennessee.

*Lt. Worsley is buried in Natchitoches, Louisiana beside his wife Eleanor.