HELP ! Marion Davis who broke sound barrier in France 1952 ?

[happymeal]

Calling the unfathomable font of science of this community :
It can be read on the internet that on a "major Marion Davis" was the first to produce a sonic boom in France on october 28, 1952, flying a Dassault “Mystere” II.

But I can't find any info on that pilot, nowhere !

He is said in one french newspaper to come from Wright Field. His name is in some instances spelled Davies. And is rank is sometime colonel.

He came invited by Dassault to fly the Mystere II. In one book he is said to be a test pilot from the Air Force Test Center.

But his name is unknown by the Air Force Historical Support Divsion ! (just received their email)

Sometihing with the name of said pilot ? (as it seems all I find on the internet is some copycat of one source only...)

Any info will be greatly appreciated !

[quemerford]

Maj John M [Marion?] Davis of Wright-Patterson ARDC; LtCol Richard Johnson was also testing with AMD at the time, also from Wright-Patterson.

Incidentally, there is also a 'Marion M Davis, Jr' (USAAF/USAF s/n 17183A), born 17 October 1924. Same man maybe?

[Cvairwerks]

Dassault lists him as Maj. Marion Davis, and flying Mystere II, s/n 3 when it was done.

https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/pa ... ystere-ii/

Davis was one of the pilots involved in the MDAP program, evaluating the Mystere for purchase by the US for the French air force, at the time he broke the barrier.
Ref: Early Jet Fighters 1944-1954: The Soviet Union and Europe By Leo Marriott, page 100.

[happymeal]

A little more info surfaced : said pilote flew in from Germany, with Johnson, in F-86 of 116th FIS, 81st FW.

and in december 1952, a lt-col. Stewart (or Stuart) Davis from the USAF was awarded an honoris causa french military pilot license.