David was the son of Frederick J. MacFarlane and Zylpha C. MacFarlane of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

David has many relatives living in Canada, including sisters and cousins. David's neice, Kim MacFarlane, lives in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Canada, and she provided this photograph which shows David, second from left, in full combat outfit with unknown colleagues.

The fact that there are seven aircrew in the photograph would indicate that they are from a heavy bomber, either a Stirling or a Halifax. The fourth airman from the left may be Phil Compton: if this is the case, there are no records of any casualty of that name in the Commonwealth Graves Commission database, which suggests that he survived the war. This is not the aircrew with whom David was flying when he lost his life (in Halifax JB837).