HIDDEN GENIUS
Frank Mann
The Black Engineer Behind Howard Hughes
by H. T. B r y e r and Paul Bryer
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 friendship, and together, these
two men would help 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 have heard of his many accomplishments.
Hidden Genius tells the little-known story of a talented
aeronautical and aerospace engineer, award-winning sports car designer,
soldier of fortune, WWII officer, and primary civilian 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, confidant, publicist, and supporter, have been on a two-decade quest to restore this missing page of American history.
Hidden Genius is the culmination of that effort.
