[link to www.nps.gov (secure)]

The first circumnavigation of the globe by air was achieved in 1924 by a team of aviators from the U.S. Army Air Service. The trip lasted 175 days, covered approximately 27,000 miles, and included landings in 22 different countries. It was an incredible feat, requiring careful selection and training of flight crews, diplomacy, and logistical planning.

As plans for the flight were developed, the U.S. War Department realized that none of their existing military planes could complete the flight. Plans for a new, more capable airplane were requested from manufacturers around the world. Donald Douglas was awarded the contract for his design of a modified DT-2 torpedo bomber his company had built for the U.S. Navy in 1921 and 1922. A fleet of five aircraft were delivered: one for testing and training, and four for the expedition itself.