In 1917, eighteen year old Douglas H. Davis volunteered for the United States Army Air Service becoming it's youngest pilot. After World War I, Davis travelled throughout the United States "barnstorming" in a Curtiss "Jenny". Making a name for himself in the aviation industry by performing stunts like dropping Baby Ruth candy bars over Coney Island, Davis, was hired as a sales distributor for the Travel Air Company. Walter Beech, the president and founder of the Travel Air company, selected Davis to pilot the new Travel Air "Mystery Ship" in the 1929 National Air Races. Davis flew the "Mystery Ship" to victory in "Event No. 26", the predecessor of the Thompson Trophy Race.