Two aircraft were completed in 1918, but further development ceased after the last one crashed with the death of the pilot, the first aviator to be killed in Rhode Island.

The D-2 was designed to partially meet a requirement for a two-seat, twin-float, twin-engined biplane for maritime-patrol duties issued by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps in October 1916.

And when the D-1 passed its acceptance trials, the Aviation Section placed an order for four aircraft utilizing Gallaudet's propulsion configuration on 27 January 1917.

The telescopic legs for the main wheels were attached to the bottom of the forward wing spar and to the fuselage with V-struts and bracing wires.

Each engine developed about 165 horsepower (123 kW) and they were clutched together to drive the four-bladed wooden propeller immediately in front of the aft observer.

[5][3] The first prototype D-2 was required to be delivered on 27 May, but this proved to be optimistic as production was seriously delayed by the company moving its factory from Norwich, Connecticut to Warwick, Rhode Island and shortages of skilled labor.

"[8] On 21 November, a control wire in one wing broke during the sixth flight of the day and caused the aircraft to crash into Greenwich Bay.

They assessed the general layout of the D-2's wings as out of date and pointed out deficiencies in other areas like the electrical system as easily fixed.

Bad weather in Rhode Island delayed its first flight and the Army authorized its transfer to Langley Field, Virginia, later that month.

McGee was distraught after the death of his close friend Phil Rader in a flying accident the previous day and had not been able to sleep that night, but insisted on continuing with his plan despite arguments by Edson Gallaudet and other company officials that there was no urgency in making the first flight.

[15] Two weeks after the crash, Edson Gallaudet made a proposal to the Navy for an enlarged Liberty D-2 suitable for a trans-Atlantic flight.

[16] Data from The Gallaudet Story: Part 14B: The Model D-2 for the Army;[4] American Military Aircraft, 1908–1919[17]General characteristics Performance