Born in Morrisonville, New York, on February 21, 1921, Manor graduated in 1937 from Cadyville High School, in Clinton County, New York. Then, he received his Teacher's Certificate from New York State Normal School in 1940. Manor entered aviation cadet training in November 1942 and received his pilot wings and commission upon graduation in August 1943. During World War II, Lt. Manor flew 72 combat missions as a P-47 pilot with the 358th Fighter Squadron in Europe, and was later assigned to the 100th Fighter Wing, also in Europe.
In September 1945, Captain Manor was assigned as a pilot at the Air Proving Grounds, Fla. He attended New York University during 1946–47 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education. For the next six years, Manor was an instructor, first at Tactical Air School, Tyndall Air Force Base; next at the newly formed Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base; and last at the Air-Ground Operations School, Southern Pines, North Carolina.
In July 1960, Manor transferred to Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe, where he was Chief, Tactical Evaluation Division, until July 1963, when he entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In June 1964, Colonel Manor was assigned to Headquarters US Air Force in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, where he served successively in the Directorate of Operations as Chief, Plans and Capabilities Branch; Chief, Analysis of Southeast Asia Operations Study Group; and as Chief, Operations Review Group.
In February 1971, Manor became Deputy Director for Operations/Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities, Joint Staff at Washington, D.C. He was transferred to the Philippines in February 1973 to become Vice Commander, 13th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, at Clark Air Base. He was 13th Air Force Commander from October 1973 until October 1976, when assigned duty as Chief of Staff, Pacific Command. He was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general on November 1, 1976, with same date of rank. Manor served as the Chief of Staff, United States Pacific Command, from October 12, 1976 until his retirement from the Air Force on July 1, 1978. Following retirement, he represented the Joint Chiefs of Staff and CINCPAC as senior military negotiator and advisor to the US Ambassador to the Philippines for the Military Bases Agreement (MBA). He also was military advisor for an independent analysis of Operation Eagle Claw, the unsuccessful April 24, 1980, raid to rescue 52 Americans held during the Iran hostage crisis. Manor died on February 25, 2021, 4 days following his 100th birthday.[2]
General Manor (4th from left) meets with President Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss the results of the raid on Son Tay
From August 8, 1970, to November 21, 1970, Manor served as a commander of a joint Army-Air Force task force whose mission was to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay, North Vietnam. The preliminary planning phase of the operation was given the codename "Polar Circle", the organizational and training phase was named "Operation Ivory Coast", and the execution of the mission codenamed "Operation Kingpin".
The Joint Contingency Task Group was formed in June 1970 after American intelligence had identified Son Tay Prison, near Hanoi, as a prisoner of war detention camp. After five months of planning and rehearsals, the task force deployed to Thailand on November 18. Two nights later the task force flew into North Vietnam. The assault group, led by U.S. Army Capt. Dick Meadows, landed in the prison compound and killed about 50 NVA guards, but found the compound to be otherwise abandoned. Meanwhile, Colonel Arthur D. "Bull" Simons, deputy task force commander, had landed with the support group in an adjacent military school compound, which was teeming with Russian and Chinese soldiers. Simons and his team killed or repelled many of these soldiers, eliminating the principal threat to the assault group. The raiders executed the entire operation in 26 minutes, successfully faced an enemy force of approximately 350 men, and left with only 2 injuries.
Brigadier General Leroy J. Manor, United States Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility while serving as the Commander of a Joint Task Force on 21 November 1970. General Manor commanded the humanitarian force whose mission was to search for and rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war deep within the territory of North Vietnam. He conceived a brilliant tactical plan, carefully selected and helped train the volunteers with the necessary expertise to carry it out. Over a period of three months, he repeatedly simulated each phase of the operation, thereby insuring its faultless execution. General Manor's brilliant talents of command and supervision resulted in a superbly trained joint task force. The mission was daring in concept, and bold in execution. General Manor directed the operation from his command post with the highest degree of professionalism. Despite great hazard, the operation was conducted without the loss of a single American life. The singular efforts and outstanding achievement of General Manor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.[3]
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) (February 1977). "LIEUTENANT GENERAL LEROY J. MANOR" (Press release). U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
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