Lieutenant Jacob E. Manch

In 1958 Manch was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base teaching young officers how to fly jets, when his T-33 flamed out over Las Vegas. He had his student parachute to safety, while he stayed with his airplane, so that he could clear the settled areas of Las Vegas. Many considered him a Hero by saving many lives. He bailed out but too late... see article below.

His father was Mailin Manch who was married with Lucille Manch (Mathis). The couple had two children. Two sons. Jacob E. Manch married Dolli Lee Manch in 1947. They had no children.

Also about crew 3 : In an after-action report, Lieutenant Robert Gray , pilot of Crew 03, described his arrival in China. “The next morning, I looked for other personnel but could not find them. Walked all day and came to village where I stayed that night. Was directed in wrong direction for six miles and ended up where I started from that morning.” Gray encountered bombardier Sergeant Aden Jones that night and the next morning they rode in Chinese palanquins to a river. That evening they found co-pilot Lieutenant Jack Manch and the group loaded a small boat, traveling two days to Chuchow, followed by train and bus travel to Hengyen and a flight to Chungking.

Thanks to :

Mervyn Roberts, PhD
History Instructor
Central Texas College

Dolli Lee Manch

 Jacob E. Manch

https://www.manchthunderbirds.org/ website op the Jacob E. Manch Elementary School in Las Vegas we read :

His last flight was characteristic of his outstanding Air Force record.  When the engines flamed out, he ordered his other crewman to eject and guided his powerless aircraft clear of a residential neighborhood that included an elementary school. When he finally ejected his parachute did not have sufficient time to properly operate, and he died when he hit the ground.

Colonel and Mrs. Manch had no children of their own, but they always took a keen interest in the children they knew. It was a tradition with them to dress in costume every Christmas and visit the homes of twenty to thirty friends who had children and leave gifts for them. Colonel Manch, who was six feet seven inches tall, thus the nickname "Shorty", made a very large Santa Claus with a bag of gifts on his back, and Mrs. Manch was dressed as the Christmas Fairy. They are well remembered for this warm expression of affection.

On 13 November 1962, the official dedication of Jacob E. Manch Elementary School was held, thus leaving a fitting tribute to his memory.

At Nellis Air Force Base, the Nellis Capehart housing area was dedicated as Manch Manor on 15 January 1960. Picture from 1973, see below.

copyright pictures©nara-usa - public domain - copyright Dolli Lee Manch picture @ family Manch. Please respect the copyright.

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