Doug Fane was born on November 16, 1909, in Aberdeen, Scotland, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1911. He became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1934. Fane joined the United States Merchant Marine in 1936, and worked his way up from Vessel Navigator to Master before accepting a commission as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, in the United States Navy on May 15, 1940. His first assignment was aboard the oiler USS Platte (AO-24) from May 1940 to April 1942, followed by service aboard the light cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43) from April to May 1942. During this time he participated in operations in the Pacific Theater, including support as part of the Doolittle Raid task force in April 1942 aboard the Nashville. He next served aboard the destroyer USS Reid (DD-369) from May to August 1942, before transferring back to USS Nashville from August to October 1942. During this time he participated in combat at Kiska Island, Alaska, in August 1942. LT Fane served aboard the escort aircraft carrier USS Card (CVE-11) from November 1942 to March 1943, and during this time he participated with his ship in combat operations in the Atlantic Ocean. His next assignment was aboard the attack transport USS Calvert (APA-32) from March to October 1943, participating in the Invasion of Sicily in the Mediterranean Theater before transferring to the ammunition ship USS Mauna Loa (AE-8), where he served from her commissioning on October 27, 1943, to April 1945. LCDR Fane next attended Underwater Demolition Team training at Fort Pierce, Florida, from April to August 1945, followed by service as Commanding Officer of Underwater Demolition Team 13 (UDT-13) from August 1945 to January 1946. He was dispatched to Europe to investigate combat diving activities there from January to May 1946, and then worked in research, development, test, and evaluation of diving equipment, training, and techniques for the UDT Teams at NAB Little Creek, Virginia, from May 1946 to November 1948. During this time he organized the Submersible Operations Platoon within UDT. His next assignment was with UDT-2 at NAB Little Creek from November 1948 to November 1950, followed by service with the Central Intelligence Agency in and around Korea during the Korean War from November 1950 to March 1951. CDR Fane served with UDT-3 at NAB Coronado, California, from May to June 1951, and then as Commanding Officer of UDT-1 at Coronado from June 1951 to November 1954. His next assignment was as Commanding Officer of UDT-11 at Coronado from December 1954 to January 1958, followed by service with the Military Sea Transportation Service in Japan from January 1958 until his retirement from the Navy on July 1, 1960. Doug Fane died on November 13, 2002, and was buried at the Lauderdale Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Navy Commendation Medal Citation reads:

For meritorious achievement in the performance of his duties while serving as Commander Task Unit 5.0.1 from 25 June to 1 September 1955, during MSTS Arctic Operations 1955 in connection with the ocean transportation of personnel and equipment in support of the construction of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line across Northern Alaska and the Canadian Northwest Territories. Under the personal direction of Commander Fane and under the most arduous of conditions, the Survey Unit, composed of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, augmented by civilian employees of the Hydrographic Office, conducted hydrographic surveys from small open boats and underwater survey from designated beaching sites to obtain the necessary information to enable the ships of Task Force FIVE to transit the uncharted waters of Amundsen, Coronation, and Queen Maud Gulfs and deliver important cargoes to designated sites in the Canadian Arctic. He consistently exhibited outstanding professional skill, determination and fortitude in combatting the extremely hazardous conditions of cold, ice, and adverse weather. His conduct, courage, leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.