James Edward Davis was born 1894 in Amherst County, Virginia. Little is known of his upbringing, but he entered the Virginia Military Institute and graduated in the class of 1915. He received his commission on October 27, 1916. He came out of WWI with the rank of Captain in the US Marines. He entered the Navy's flight training program at NAS Pensacola in 1922. And like so many pilots before and since, he met a Pensacola girl by the name of Miss Beatrice H. Howe thus becoming an "adopted son of Pensacola." She was the daughter of George Westerby Howe Sr. (1867-1957) and Louise Sellers (1870-1914). She and her two siblings Osmond (1900-1900) and George W. Jr. (1906-1936) were raised in the family home at 712 North Barcelona Street. Her father supported the family as a successful lumber exporter. In 1934, Lt. Colonel Davis was stationed in Washington before receiving his orders to take over command of the Marine Aircraft Group #2 in San Diego, California. He moved his wife to the suburb of Coronado outside his base at NAS North Island. She returned home preparing for the birth of their son James E. Parr Davis. Colonel Davis returned to Pensacola during this time to be at her side in April of 1935. Afterwards, the couple left for Coronado. On October 7, 1935, he and his flight mechanic, Sergeant I. M. Owen were flying back to San Diego and landed in Lordsburg, New Mexico to refuel before continuing their journey. For whatever reason, Colonel Davis was taking off when his plane crashed and burst into flames. He was burned beyond recognition, but Sergeant was thrown clear of the wreckage and survived. Beatrice was informed of his fate by the Marine authorities. Arrangements were made to bury her husband in Arlington Cemetery followed by her transfer home with their son to live with her widowed father. Sadly, she would lose her brother George W. Jr. six months later on March 9, 1936. Beatrice would never remarry and remained in Pensacola the rest of her life in her family home. She would pass away in 1963 and was buried among her family in St. John's Cemetery.
US Marine Vought SU-2 two-seater similar to Davis' aircraft
Pensacola News Journal 10-8-1935
Pensacola News Journal 10-11-1935