Manget

Captain Henry F. “Doc” Manget, Jr. ’48, a member of  UGA’s greatest generation, one of our state’s most honored combat veterans and a pioneer in Georgia aviation passed away July 2004.

Doc and his wife, the former Maie “Toy” Watkin, graduated from the University in 1948. They have three sons who are all UGA alumni: Frederick, (BA’73), Thomas, (BSA’77) and John, (BA’79).

Doc was a fifth-generation Georgian who spent more than 35 years in civil service and 40 years in Naval Aviation.  During those careers, he flew combat missions in World War II and Korea and managed DeKalb-Peachtree Airport while it became the leading general aviation airport in the state.  He was a leader in aviation and airport management organizations nationwide and rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

According to his son Fred, who furnished information for this article, he held private and commercial, single and multiengine aircraft licenses and had more than 4,000 flight hours in 41 different aircraft (29 military and 12 civilian).

Fred reports: “Doc was born in Atlanta in 1921 and took his first flight at Bainbridge, Ga. as a passenger in a Waco on his eighth birthday.  He began his aviation career in the Navy Flight Program in December 1941 and soloed in a N2N in February 1942 at the Naval Air Base at Chamblee (later renamed the Naval Air Station Atlanta).

“He received his aviator’s wings and commission as an Ensign in October 1942.  In early 1943, he reported to Torpeda Squadron 27 (VT27) aboard the carrier USS SUWANEE, and flew from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, for four months during the Solomons campaign. He continued with Air Group 27, flying TBM Avenger torpeda bombers from the fast attack carrier USS PRINCETON (CVL 23) in the battle of the Philippines Sea, the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, as well as strikes on Saipan, Palau, the Philippines, Okinawa, and Formosa.  He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving the lives of two downed pilots while flying on a search and rescue mission.  At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, his carrier was sunk by Japanese action.  He jumped from the flight deck and was picked up later that day by a destroyer.

“After World War II, Captain Manget graduated from the University of Georgia, and flew Hellcats (F6Fs) and Corsairs (F4Us) in the Reserves as the Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 674.  When the Navy converted to jets, Manget flew the early Navy jet fighter, the F9F Panther.  He was recalled to active duty at the beginning of the Korean War and spent nine months as the Executive Officer of Fighter Squadron 72 (VF72) aboard the USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CV-31), flying Panthers against North Korean targets.  In 1953-54, he was assigned as a Navy test pilot at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis, testing the F2H-2 and the F2H-3 Banshee.

“He then began his civilian aviation career as the Assistant Manager of El Paso International Airport.  In 1959 he became the first airport director of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, and was responsible for converting it from an abandoned naval air station to a showcase of general aviation.  Aircraft based at the field increased from 6 to 352, and flight operations grew from a few dozen a year to over 254,000  - making the airport the second busiest in the state (after Hartsfield Airport).

“Doc Manget was the director for 31 years, and during that time was successful in developing a new 6,000 foot-all-weather runway with a full instrument landing system, 120 individual T-hangars, a new air traffic control tower, and 13 large corporate hangars.  Doc was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Airport Executives, president of the Southeastern Airport Managers Association, and a Director of Roswell Bank.  He also had senior Navy Reserve assignments at the Marietta Naval Air Station.

“He was a director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Airports Council and an active member of the Georgia Airports Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the Silver Wings.

“He was a recipient of the Atlanta Journal Constitution Community Service Award and had received 19 military decorations including three Distinguished Flying Cross awards three Air Medals, the Presidential unit Citation, Korean Presidential unit Citation, Navy Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Naval Reserve Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.”