A Danville, Illinois resident, Ray Davis enlisted in the Air Service, U. S. Army, as a private in the Aviation Section, on August 15, 1917, as soon as he heard that World War 1 had been declared. He was assigned to the ground school at the University of Illinois, later going to Belleville, Illinois where he completed his flying course and was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant, Aviation Section of the Signal Corps on December 26, 1917. He served as instructor of aviation at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Hicks Field, Texas, before being sent overseas in July, 1918. His assignment was in the 104th Aero Squadron during the San Mihiel drive. He was in fugitive target work, observation expeditions and occasionally on contact patrol, as pilot of a Salmson Type 2. On September 30, 1918, in heavy rain and wind, he and Captain (later Major) Elmer Haslett were evaluating the effect of artillery bombardment to determine effectiveness and potential improvement when they were shot down by German machine gun fire, captured and eventually imprisoned at Lanstrut, Bavaria until the Armistice. He was discharged from service, but was recommissioned on February 5, 1921 as a 1st Lieutenant, Air Service, Regular Army at Langley Field, Virginia. He became Commander of the 88th Squadron at Langley Field and was recognized as "one of the best flyers of bombing planes in the Air Service". On September 23, 1922, while participating in night war games under the direction of General Billy Mitchell at Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York, piloting a Martin MB-1 bomber, the plane crashed and burned, killing Lt. Davis and the five on-board crew. The MB-1 was the first twin-engine bomber in service to the Army Air Corps and was being tested by Lt. Davis.