In Memory of
David Richard Davis
1894 - 1972
Erma Tracy Davis
1896 - 1984
** Obituary **
DAVID R. DAVIS DIES; AVIATION PIONEER, 78
APRIL 18, 1972
LOS ANGELES, April 17 (AP) —David R. Davis, who helped found the company that later became the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, died at a hospital here Saturday after a brief illness. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Davis was credited with inventing the "Davis Wing," a major component of the B‐24 Liberator bombers of World War II. In 1920, he advanced $40,000 to Donald W. Douglas to build the Cloudstar, first aircraft to take off with a payload and fuel supply heavier than its own weight.
He sold out his interest in the Davis‐Douglas Company for a $2,500 promissory note. The firm became Douglas Aircraft Corp., now McDonnell‐Douglas, Inc.
Surviving are his widow, Erma, and a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Tilley of Honolulu.
Shortly before World War II, Mr. Davis persuaded Consolidated (Aircraft) to experiment with a wing based on his theory that a roughly tear‐shaped leading edge would give it greater lifting power and less drag than a conventional wing. The company produced the PBY‐5 Catalina for the Navy and the B‐24 Liberator for the Army, both of which proved outstanding as long‐range performers. **
Addendum: Dave Davis later became a fishing equipment entrepreneur and legend developing fishing lures and trolling rigs that still bear his name today.
David Richard Davis
1894 - 1972
Erma Tracy Davis
1896 - 1984
** Obituary **
DAVID R. DAVIS DIES; AVIATION PIONEER, 78
APRIL 18, 1972
LOS ANGELES, April 17 (AP) —David R. Davis, who helped found the company that later became the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, died at a hospital here Saturday after a brief illness. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Davis was credited with inventing the "Davis Wing," a major component of the B‐24 Liberator bombers of World War II. In 1920, he advanced $40,000 to Donald W. Douglas to build the Cloudstar, first aircraft to take off with a payload and fuel supply heavier than its own weight.
He sold out his interest in the Davis‐Douglas Company for a $2,500 promissory note. The firm became Douglas Aircraft Corp., now McDonnell‐Douglas, Inc.
Surviving are his widow, Erma, and a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Tilley of Honolulu.
Shortly before World War II, Mr. Davis persuaded Consolidated (Aircraft) to experiment with a wing based on his theory that a roughly tear‐shaped leading edge would give it greater lifting power and less drag than a conventional wing. The company produced the PBY‐5 Catalina for the Navy and the B‐24 Liberator for the Army, both of which proved outstanding as long‐range performers. **
Addendum: Dave Davis later became a fishing equipment entrepreneur and legend developing fishing lures and trolling rigs that still bear his name today.
In Memory of
David Richard Davis
1894 - 1972
Erma Tracy Davis
1896 - 1984
** Obituary **
DAVID R. DAVIS DIES; AVIATION PIONEER, 78
APRIL 18, 1972
LOS ANGELES, April 17 (AP) —David R. Davis, who helped found the company that later became the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, died at a hospital here Saturday after a brief illness. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Davis was credited with inventing the "Davis Wing," a major component of the B‐24 Liberator bombers of World War II. In 1920, he advanced $40,000 to Donald W. Douglas to build the Cloudstar, first aircraft to take off with a payload and fuel supply heavier than its own weight.
He sold out his interest in the Davis‐Douglas Company for a $2,500 promissory note. The firm became Douglas Aircraft Corp., now McDonnell‐Douglas, Inc.
Surviving are his widow, Erma, and a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Tilley of Honolulu.
Shortly before World War II, Mr. Davis persuaded Consolidated (Aircraft) to experiment with a wing based on his theory that a roughly tear‐shaped leading edge would give it greater lifting power and less drag than a conventional wing. The company produced the PBY‐5 Catalina for the Navy and the B‐24 Liberator for the Army, both of which proved outstanding as long‐range performers. **
Addendum: Dave Davis later became a fishing equipment entrepreneur and legend developing fishing lures and trolling rigs that still bear his name today.
David Richard Davis
1894 - 1972
Erma Tracy Davis
1896 - 1984
** Obituary **
DAVID R. DAVIS DIES; AVIATION PIONEER, 78
APRIL 18, 1972
LOS ANGELES, April 17 (AP) —David R. Davis, who helped found the company that later became the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, died at a hospital here Saturday after a brief illness. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Davis was credited with inventing the "Davis Wing," a major component of the B‐24 Liberator bombers of World War II. In 1920, he advanced $40,000 to Donald W. Douglas to build the Cloudstar, first aircraft to take off with a payload and fuel supply heavier than its own weight.
He sold out his interest in the Davis‐Douglas Company for a $2,500 promissory note. The firm became Douglas Aircraft Corp., now McDonnell‐Douglas, Inc.
Surviving are his widow, Erma, and a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Tilley of Honolulu.
Shortly before World War II, Mr. Davis persuaded Consolidated (Aircraft) to experiment with a wing based on his theory that a roughly tear‐shaped leading edge would give it greater lifting power and less drag than a conventional wing. The company produced the PBY‐5 Catalina for the Navy and the B‐24 Liberator for the Army, both of which proved outstanding as long‐range performers. **
Addendum: Dave Davis later became a fishing equipment entrepreneur and legend developing fishing lures and trolling rigs that still bear his name today.
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