Davis Airlines Collection
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10735.1/4987
Guy A. Davis was born August 26, 1920, in White City, Texas. He was a consummate airman who made a significant contribution to the commuter airline industry in the state as the co-founder of Davis Airlines with his wife, the former May Bell Nunn.
Davis started flying in 1935 and soloed in a Taylor E-2 Cub at age 15. After his high school graduation in 1939 he enrolled in college at Texas A&M, class of 1943, and joined the university’s Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940. In 1941 Davis became an instructor in the program, teaching aerobatics in the Myers OTW, WACO UPF-7, and Boeing Stearman.
During WWII Davis served as a civilian pilot in the USAAC Ferry Command with the 5th Ferry Group stationed at Dallas Love Field and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943 flying P-39s, P-40s, and P-51s in the United States, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Two tours in the Pacific Theater followed with the Transport Command (later Air Transport Command) for which he flew C-54s, C-47s, and B-25s. During his 14 months in the Pacific he was awarded with six battle stars.
In 1965 Davis and his wife founded Davis Airlines at Easterwood Airport, College Station, Texas. Davis Airlines, the second commuter airline in Texas, grew to serve routes from Bryan/College Station to Dallas and Houston with a variety of aircraft: Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper PA-31 Navajo, Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Beechcraft Model 18 "Twin Beech", de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, and Cessna 402 Businessliner. At its peak in 1977 Davis Airlines served about four thousand passengers each month with 32 daily scheduled flights. Davis and his wife owned and operated the local commuter service accident free for twelve years, selling Davis Airlines to Rio Airways in 1978.
At the end of his 65-year flying career, Davis had logged approximately 18,000 hours in over 100 types of aircraft.
Guy A. Davis died on September 13, 2000. He was survived by his wife Mary Bell Davis, three sons (Guy H. Davis, Roland O. Davis, and Gary W. Davis) and a daughter (Diane "Sissy" Davis).
Davis started flying in 1935 and soloed in a Taylor E-2 Cub at age 15. After his high school graduation in 1939 he enrolled in college at Texas A&M, class of 1943, and joined the university’s Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940. In 1941 Davis became an instructor in the program, teaching aerobatics in the Myers OTW, WACO UPF-7, and Boeing Stearman.
During WWII Davis served as a civilian pilot in the USAAC Ferry Command with the 5th Ferry Group stationed at Dallas Love Field and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943 flying P-39s, P-40s, and P-51s in the United States, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Two tours in the Pacific Theater followed with the Transport Command (later Air Transport Command) for which he flew C-54s, C-47s, and B-25s. During his 14 months in the Pacific he was awarded with six battle stars.
In 1965 Davis and his wife founded Davis Airlines at Easterwood Airport, College Station, Texas. Davis Airlines, the second commuter airline in Texas, grew to serve routes from Bryan/College Station to Dallas and Houston with a variety of aircraft: Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper PA-31 Navajo, Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Beechcraft Model 18 "Twin Beech", de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, and Cessna 402 Businessliner. At its peak in 1977 Davis Airlines served about four thousand passengers each month with 32 daily scheduled flights. Davis and his wife owned and operated the local commuter service accident free for twelve years, selling Davis Airlines to Rio Airways in 1978.
At the end of his 65-year flying career, Davis had logged approximately 18,000 hours in over 100 types of aircraft.
Guy A. Davis died on September 13, 2000. He was survived by his wife Mary Bell Davis, three sons (Guy H. Davis, Roland O. Davis, and Gary W. Davis) and a daughter (Diane "Sissy" Davis).