Fighter pilot Tubal Claude Ryan left US Army 1922 and, unable to get job, formed small Ryan Airlines at San Diego, with workshops where small crew led by Harvey Bowlus converted 9 ex-war Standard J-1s into transports with pilot’s cockpit behind cabin for 4 passengers. Airline prospered and grew, while, with B.F. 'Frank' Mahoney, Ryan carried out more ambitious conversions and, from 1925, original design. First was M-1 (14 February 1926), high-wing monoplane carrying 2 passengers or mail, 16 being built at San Diego. M-2 Bluebird was generally similar, 21 being built. In 1926 airline carried 5,000, mainly LA-San Diego, but Ryan and Mahoney had disagreements and for $25,000 Ryan walked out, leaving airline, M-1, M-2 and as-yet-unbuilt B-1 Brougham. Barely a week later (3 February 1927) Mahoney received a cable: 'Can you construct Whirlwind-engined plane capable flying nonstop between New York and Paris?' Chief engineer Donald Hall had already roughed out design, based on Brougham, when Lindbergh visited plant 23 February. Rest is history, Ryan NYP making flight 20-21 May 1927. Resulting demand for Brougham was such that 20 per month was inadequate, total topping 240. In 1928 company was renamed Mahoney-Ryan, relocated at St Louis which had financed Lindbergh. This company was one of those swallowed by conglomerate Detroit to crash in Depression. T.C. Ryan had meanwhile been distributing imported Siemens engines and, above all, building up what was to become the Ryan School of Aeronautics at Lindbergh Field, San Diego.