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Hidden Genius: Frank Mann, the Black Engineer behind Howard Hughes
Frank Mann had the deck stacked against him from the very start. A Black child born to an unwed mother in 1908 Texas didn't have much hope of becoming a success in life. But in 1919, on a dusty Houston airfield, young Frank met a kindred soul, a boy named Howard Hughes. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and together, these two men helped revolutionize the world with their unique inventions and designs.
However, because Frank was Black, he did not always receive the credit he deserved and few people today know of his accomplishments.
'Hidden Genius' tells the little known story of a talented aeronautical and aerospace engineer, award winning sports car designer, soldier of fortune, U.S. Army officer in WWII, and primary civilian flight instructor for the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
About the Author: H.T. Bryer knew Frank Mann personally. He and his brother Paul Bryer, who was Frank's best friend, and confidant, have been on a two decade quest to restore this missing page of American history. 'Hidden Genius' is the culmination of that effort.
However, because Frank was Black, he did not always receive the credit he deserved and few people today know of his accomplishments.
'Hidden Genius' tells the little known story of a talented aeronautical and aerospace engineer, award winning sports car designer, soldier of fortune, U.S. Army officer in WWII, and primary civilian flight instructor for the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
About the Author: H.T. Bryer knew Frank Mann personally. He and his brother Paul Bryer, who was Frank's best friend, and confidant, have been on a two decade quest to restore this missing page of American history. 'Hidden Genius' is the culmination of that effort.
109 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 28, 2020
It was purely by chance that I came across this book. It has a story that everyone should know, for it is about a most remarkable man whose many and varied accomplishments have enriched our lives. And yet, this man, Frank C. Mann (1908-1992), an African American, is largely unknown.
Mann, the only child of an unwed mother, was born and grew up in Texas. He showed an early interest in mechanical devices and became highly skilled as an automotive mechanic. His parents (by this time, Mann's mother had married a schoolteacher and had qualified as a schoolteacher herself) wanted him to pursue a profession, preferably education which conferred high status and respectability. Mann, on the other hand, felt differently. "When I was nine years old, I looked at my mother and father and I said that when I grew up, I wasn't going to be like them. They were uppity; they had no time for the average person on the street. Unless that person had something important to say to them, they figured that the average Joe had no business talking to them. Because they were educated and school teachers, they thought that they were better than the man on the street. I made up my mind that I was going to accomplish great things in my life, and no matter how big I got, I would always treat the other guy the way I would like to be treated."
It was also when he was 9 that Mann saw his first airplane, which had landed at a field near where he lived. The plane had run out of gas. Mann was fascinated and built his own model airplane, which his stepfather later showed off to his students.
From working odd jobs as a mechanic, Mann saved enough money so that he could be taken up for a ride in an airplane from an airport in Houston. Flying became his great love, and Mann pestered the mechanics there so much, that they allowed him to repair torn fabric on the airplanes and perform mechanical work on the engines. He learned a lot and one day, he met a young man while working at that airport who would be one of the greatest influences in his life: Howard Hughes. Both Mann and Hughes were kindred spirits and hit it off almost immediately. Mann went on to finish high school and later studied aeronautical engineering at both the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University. In 1934, Mann contacted Hughes and went to work for him at his company, Hughes Aircraft Co., in California. There Mann also did some contract work with a number of other aircraft companies, and established friendships with several of Hollywood's major stars, including Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, and John Barrymore.
Mann also served for a time, on behalf of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, as a reconnaissance pilot during the Ethiopian War of 1935-36, using an airplane (one of the fastest monoplanes of the time) he had shipped over from Canada. He went on to Europe and joined a flying circus there, serving as a stunt pilot, wingwalker, and parachutist. Mann returned to the U.S. shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Mann also served as a flight instructor at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where the government had set up a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) program in 1940 for African American men who wanted to learn to fly. All this was part of America's effort to create a corps of flyers who would likely be needed in the U.S. Army Air Corps and other aviation units in the U.S. military should the country go to war.
Mann, after war was declared, became an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force (the Air Corps was renamed the USAAF in July 1941). He continued his work at Tuskegee. Unfortunately, the aircraft Tuskegee had received from the government were largely obsolete and unairworthy. Mann got in touch with Howard Hughes, who made arrangements for an advanced trainer to be sent to Tuskegee. But by that time Mann had "gotten into a lot of trouble for partying with the Black officers' wives and White officers' wives around Tuskegee. So Howard [Hughes] pulled some strings and got me out of there before I became the first-ever Black man to be lynched by a bi-racial mob." Mann returned to Hughes Aircraft and continued to work for Hughes for the next 30 years. He also developed an interest in auto design and manufacture, producing for a time his own sports cars, whose buying clientele included Mickey Rooney and several other celebrity friends. (Mann also performed some work for NASA, which included the space shuttle program.)
This is a book for anyone who wants to learn about the life of a man born in a world largely hostile to him because of the color of his skin, who, nevertheless, devoted himself to being the best in his chosen career and won the respect of his peers. He was also a decent and fair man who lived life to the full.
Mann, the only child of an unwed mother, was born and grew up in Texas. He showed an early interest in mechanical devices and became highly skilled as an automotive mechanic. His parents (by this time, Mann's mother had married a schoolteacher and had qualified as a schoolteacher herself) wanted him to pursue a profession, preferably education which conferred high status and respectability. Mann, on the other hand, felt differently. "When I was nine years old, I looked at my mother and father and I said that when I grew up, I wasn't going to be like them. They were uppity; they had no time for the average person on the street. Unless that person had something important to say to them, they figured that the average Joe had no business talking to them. Because they were educated and school teachers, they thought that they were better than the man on the street. I made up my mind that I was going to accomplish great things in my life, and no matter how big I got, I would always treat the other guy the way I would like to be treated."
It was also when he was 9 that Mann saw his first airplane, which had landed at a field near where he lived. The plane had run out of gas. Mann was fascinated and built his own model airplane, which his stepfather later showed off to his students.
From working odd jobs as a mechanic, Mann saved enough money so that he could be taken up for a ride in an airplane from an airport in Houston. Flying became his great love, and Mann pestered the mechanics there so much, that they allowed him to repair torn fabric on the airplanes and perform mechanical work on the engines. He learned a lot and one day, he met a young man while working at that airport who would be one of the greatest influences in his life: Howard Hughes. Both Mann and Hughes were kindred spirits and hit it off almost immediately. Mann went on to finish high school and later studied aeronautical engineering at both the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University. In 1934, Mann contacted Hughes and went to work for him at his company, Hughes Aircraft Co., in California. There Mann also did some contract work with a number of other aircraft companies, and established friendships with several of Hollywood's major stars, including Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, and John Barrymore.
Mann also served for a time, on behalf of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, as a reconnaissance pilot during the Ethiopian War of 1935-36, using an airplane (one of the fastest monoplanes of the time) he had shipped over from Canada. He went on to Europe and joined a flying circus there, serving as a stunt pilot, wingwalker, and parachutist. Mann returned to the U.S. shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Mann also served as a flight instructor at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where the government had set up a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) program in 1940 for African American men who wanted to learn to fly. All this was part of America's effort to create a corps of flyers who would likely be needed in the U.S. Army Air Corps and other aviation units in the U.S. military should the country go to war.
Mann, after war was declared, became an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force (the Air Corps was renamed the USAAF in July 1941). He continued his work at Tuskegee. Unfortunately, the aircraft Tuskegee had received from the government were largely obsolete and unairworthy. Mann got in touch with Howard Hughes, who made arrangements for an advanced trainer to be sent to Tuskegee. But by that time Mann had "gotten into a lot of trouble for partying with the Black officers' wives and White officers' wives around Tuskegee. So Howard [Hughes] pulled some strings and got me out of there before I became the first-ever Black man to be lynched by a bi-racial mob." Mann returned to Hughes Aircraft and continued to work for Hughes for the next 30 years. He also developed an interest in auto design and manufacture, producing for a time his own sports cars, whose buying clientele included Mickey Rooney and several other celebrity friends. (Mann also performed some work for NASA, which included the space shuttle program.)
This is a book for anyone who wants to learn about the life of a man born in a world largely hostile to him because of the color of his skin, who, nevertheless, devoted himself to being the best in his chosen career and won the respect of his peers. He was also a decent and fair man who lived life to the full.
January 23, 2012
This review is based on a free copy supplied by the Author through Goodreads First Reads program.
This is a glowing review of a very important person’s life and contribution to society that has basically been hidden up to now.
Frank Mann was a black man in a white man’s world. But he was smart and he was personable and it didn’t hurt that he ran into Howard Hughes early in his career and they clicked.
This is the story of Frank as mostly told by himself to H. T. Bryer the author of the book.
From planes to automobiles Frank Mann had the intelligence and smarts (there is a difference) to see through problems rather than letting them stand in his way.
He never let being black be an impediment to his contributions and the people who knew him well knew that as well
A fast but interesting read
This is a glowing review of a very important person’s life and contribution to society that has basically been hidden up to now.
Frank Mann was a black man in a white man’s world. But he was smart and he was personable and it didn’t hurt that he ran into Howard Hughes early in his career and they clicked.
This is the story of Frank as mostly told by himself to H. T. Bryer the author of the book.
From planes to automobiles Frank Mann had the intelligence and smarts (there is a difference) to see through problems rather than letting them stand in his way.
He never let being black be an impediment to his contributions and the people who knew him well knew that as well
A fast but interesting read
May 21, 2012
Very disappointed. A story about a forgotten black genius is short on details and mainly deals with the authours association with him in his later years.
September 21, 2017
A fascinating, admirable human being.
Unfortunately Frank's story is tale not well told. It's a difficult thing, the writing game. For many reasons Frank's life would be ideal for Hollywood. I hope that happens.
Unfortunately Frank's story is tale not well told. It's a difficult thing, the writing game. For many reasons Frank's life would be ideal for Hollywood. I hope that happens.
January 2, 2018
Great life story, very wooden writing. I hope F.C. Mann will eventually receive the recognition he deserves.
June 30, 2021
A History Lesson
Many people of color have been hidden maybe intentionally, maybe not. We need to uncover those that have contributed and remained in the background for far too long.
Although F.C. Mann was a large personality in life, he succumbed to the times and lived in the background. Racism is not only blatant, but hidden as well.
Many people of color have been hidden maybe intentionally, maybe not. We need to uncover those that have contributed and remained in the background for far too long.
Although F.C. Mann was a large personality in life, he succumbed to the times and lived in the background. Racism is not only blatant, but hidden as well.
August 3, 2017
A beautiful story
A revealing book about a great engineer. A great untold story. I loved it from beginning to end. Frank was ahead of his time.
A revealing book about a great engineer. A great untold story. I loved it from beginning to end. Frank was ahead of his time.
May 9, 2023
Such an admirer of Rosalind Franklin, but I just couldn't get into this book.
January 18, 2012
This was an amazing book about an amazing man. I was deeply touched by the stories of Frank Mann's successes and his philosophies on life. I was also very impressed with the story of friendship between Paul and Frank. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves America, as it is the story of an American man who built himself up despite great obstacles.
Definitely an amazing book. I hope that someday the tv series mentioned in it is made correctly. It will inspire young people across the world to overcome obstacles rather than letting hard times stop their progress. I recommend this book to be used in schools as well.
Definitely an amazing book. I hope that someday the tv series mentioned in it is made correctly. It will inspire young people across the world to overcome obstacles rather than letting hard times stop their progress. I recommend this book to be used in schools as well.
March 12, 2016
The book is primarily an interesting biography of Frank Mann, the "hidden genius" behind many mechanical inventions of the 20th century including some by Howard Hughes. Mr. Mann was befriended in the last years of his eventful life by Paul Bryer, a building contractor in the area of Houston where Mr. Mann lived. Mr. Bryer wants to make sure the world knows about and appreciates Mr. Mann and the lengths to which he goes to do so is as interesting as the original biography.
September 14, 2012
Frank Mann, mechanical mastermind, led an interesting life: aeronautical engineer, car designer, comedian, dancer, singer—he enjoyed all life had to offer. Refusing to allow his race to encumber him, Frank set out to begin a career in engineering.
Read the full review at http://whatstheword-saywhaaat.blogspo....
Read the full review at http://whatstheword-saywhaaat.blogspo....
January 26, 2012
I had no idea. Thank you for bringing this history to light of an amazing man.
April 16, 2013
Wow what a fascinating story about a Houston legend. This is a must read for aviation and Houston history enthusiasts.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews