Lt. Col. Paul "Skip" Manning: Courage in the Skies, Commitment Beyond the Cockpit

Beneath the crisp lines of his dress blue uniform lies the legacy of one of the Marine Corps’ most daring and battle-tested aviators.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Manning carved his name into the annals of Marine aviation through two wars and countless skies filled with danger. A fearless pilot during the Korean War, Manning flew deep into enemy territory—twice being shot down and twice rescued. In one harrowing mission, he located and destroyed a heavily guarded enemy ammunition train, crippling vital supply lines and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism in aerial combat.

We’re guessing that his call sign may have been “Skip,” based on one of his name tags—and if so, it was fitting. According to the citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross, “Engaged in a mission against a heavily defended railroad tunnel known to be sheltering a loaded enemy supply train, Second Lieutenant Manning carried out a dive-bombing attack to extremely low altitude and, despite intense barrages of hostile fire and precipitous terrain, succeeded in accurately skipping his bombs into the tunnel entrance, resulting in secondary explosions...” That single mission captured the daring and precision that defined his service. 

His courage didn’t end in Korea.

By the time America was drawn into Vietnam, Manning had risen to command Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VMCJ-1). Flying the sleek RF-8 Crusader, he led from the front—personally piloting the squadron’s 25,000th combat sortie. In one especially perilous mission, he flew straight into heavily defended airspace in a bold attempt to capture critical reconnaissance imagery of a North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile (SAM) site, risking his life to deliver the intelligence his fellow Marines needed to survive.

While flying a photo reconnaissance mission in 1965, his aircraft was hit by flak and he was forced to eject. Though successfully rescued, the violent ejection caused back injuries that ended his flying career. However, Major Manning was not finished with the Marine Corps. He continued to serve with honor for another ten years, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During his illustrious career, Lt. Col. Manning earned numerous commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with five stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V," the Purple Heart, and many other decorations and awards that stand as a testament to his bravery, leadership, and unwavering commitment to duty.

Lt. Col. Paul A. Manning—possibly known to his squadron as “Skip”—was more than a pilot. He was a living symbol of courage, resilience, and dedication. A warrior who flew through fire, led by example, and embodied the very ethos of the United States Marine Corps in every mission.