Nationality United States Known for Engineering | Fields Aerospace Engineering Field Aerospace Engineering | |
Born November 22, 1908
Houston, Texas ( 1908-11-22 ) Died 1992, Houston, Texas, United States Alma maters University of Minnesota, University of California, Los Angeles | ||
Frank Calvin Mann (1908–1992) was an African American engineer who was known for his participation in many Howard Hughes's projects including the Spruce Goose. He also starred in the Amos 'n' Andy radio show. Apparently, his lifelong friendship with Hughes was instrumental in opening doors for Mann's exceptional talents.
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Early life
Frank Mann was born in Houston, Texas on November 22, 1908 to parents who wanted him to be a school teacher. From childhood, Mann had a natural affinity with fixing things, and at age 11, he had his own mechanical shop. As a teenager, he worked alongside airplane mechanics, repairing engines. By the ago of 20, he had designed and built several of his own Model-T cars. Mann attended the University of Minnesota and UCLA where he earned a mechanical engineering degree.
World War II efforts
Mann was the primary civilian instructor of the Tuskegee Airmen in 1941 and served in the United States Army Air Corps.
Engineering
In a biography, Mann claimed, "I mostly worked on design plans for aircraft, and I redesigned components to make certain that the aircraft would work properly." He also claimed to be the first black pilot of a major airline, Northwest Airways. Mann was featured in the 1955 issue of Car Life magazine with a car - Baby Le Sabre - built as a hubby, modeled on the F-86 Sabre Jet. He claimed to have received a decade's royalties on the LeSabre, Eldorado and other designs. In the 1950s, he built a locomotive (currently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution).