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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

General Mann was born in New Hebron, Illinois, on November 19, 1923. His military training began in December 1942 when he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and qualified for the Aviation Cadet flying training program. He graduated and was commissioned a second lieutenant on April 15, 1944. Until the end of WWII, he served as a flying instructor in single and multi-engine aircraft.

The General returned to civilian life in February 1946 but was recalled to active duty in October 1948 as a first lieutenant. Upon recall, he was assigned to the 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Wing, Itazuke Air Base, Japan, as a P-51 pilot. When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, he was an F-80 jet pilot with the 8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Wing, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Upon completion of 101 combat missions in January 1951, he was assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C. as an F-84 pilot. Upon graduation from the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama and promotion to captain, he was retained as an instructor until mid-1953 when he was selected to be Aide-de-Camp to General Laurence S. Kuter, Commander, Air University.

From 1956 to 1958, General Mann, then a major, served as Operations Officer, 45th Fighter Squadron, Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco, where he flew F-100 Super Saberjets; and as Commander, 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Nouasseur Air Base, Morocco, flying the F-86D Saberjet. In 1958, the 357th FIS was named the number one interceptor squadron in US Air Forces - Europe and placed third in the Worldwide Hughes Trophy Competition.

Graduating from the Air Command and Staff College in 1959, General Mann was assigned to the Air Staff in the Pentagon as an International Liaison Officer. He held that position until 1962 when he was transferred to Tyndall AFB, Florida. There, he served in a number of operations assignments, including project officer for the world-wide interceptor weapons meet (William Tell 1963); Director of Training; and Director of Operations, 4756th Air Defense Wing, where he flew the F-101B/F and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

During 1964 and 1965, General Mann was Chief of the Air Operations Center, 314th Air Division/AFK, Osan Air Base, Korea. Upon graduation from the Air War College in 1966, he returned to the Pentagon and served as Chief, Operations Branch, Politico-Military Division, Joint War Games Agency, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from 1966 to 1969. During that time, he was promoted to Colonel.

Following his second tour in the Pentagon, General Mann served as Director of Operations, 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C. from July 1969 to October 1970. While at Shaw, he flew the RF-101 Voodoo and the RF-4C Phantom supersonic reconnaissance jets. He also checked out in the F-4D Phantom jet fighter at Seymour-Johnson AFB, N. C.

In November 1970, General Mann arrived in Southeast Asia (Thailand) where he served first as Vice Commander, 432nd Tactical Fighter/Recon Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, from 18 Nov 70 to 3 Apr 71; then as Commander, 432 TF/RWg from 4 Apr through 29 Oct 71. During that tour, he flew 50 combat reconnaissance missions in the RF-4C and 79 strike missions in the F-4D Phantom jets. Gen. Mann’s son, Robert, flew his wing in an F-4E on dad’s final combat mission.

Following his combat tour in SEA, he was promoted to Brigadier General. His final assignment, prior to retirement, was as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

During his varied Air Force career, General Mann accumulated about 8,000 hours in the air, mostly in fighter aircraft. He was a Command Pilot and his military decorations include the following: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 OLC, Air Medal with 18 OLC, AF Commendation Medal, US Unit Presidential Citation with 1 OLC, AF Outstanding Unit Award with V (Valor) and 1 OLC, Republic of Korea Unit Presidential Citation and more than a dozen other service medals and ribbons for service during WWII, the Korean War and the war in Southeast Asia.

General Mann was graduated from the University of Alabama with a Baccalaureate Degree in 1956 and from George Washington University with a Masters Degree in 1966. His major subjects were Political Science and International Relations. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honorary Society and is a 32nd Degree Mason. He is also a member of the Quiet Birdmen and the Order of Daedalians. Life member of Sandoval Masonic Lodge 93Z.

Genera/Mann retired from the US Air Force on 31 May 1976 with 33 and 1/2 years military service. Since that time he has been engaged in a family-owned business. He is survived by his wife, the former Maurine McClelland Hawley of Sandoval, Illinois, three children, seven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. His eldest son, Robert Crayne Mann, died of a massive heart attack in August, 1987.