Harry Manning

Vice Admiral Harry Manning (February 3, 1897 – August 1, 1974) was an American master mariner, aviator, and an officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He is most noted for his heroic role in the rescue of 32 crew members from Italian freighter Florida and for commanding the SS United States on her record-breaking maiden crossings of the Atlantic. He was among those honored in two ticker tape parades: the first in 1929 as a crew member of the America and again in 1952 as master of the SS United States. As an aviator, Manning served as a navigator for Amelia Earhart.

Early life Harry Manning was born as Harry Luelker in Hamburg, Germany on February 3, 1897. When his mother Anna married William Edwards Manning, a British diplomat, his name was changed to that of his stepfather. (His legal middle initial, "V", was rarely used and appeared in only one publication.) His parents moved to New York City when he has about ten years old but his stepfather died soon after. His short stature, only , and a slight physical build subjected him to what would now be called bullying. He responded to the taunts by engaging in fistfights, and even took boxing lessons. He enrolled in the New York State Nautical School which at that time was based on the training ship Newport and taught grammar school subjects in addition to seamanship, graduating in 1914. His first job at sea was on the liner St. Paul, where he became the quartermaster on the second voyage. He would however be fired after a voyage to Nantucket when he suffered seasickness in choppy seas and failed to execute a maneuver. He next went to the Pacific where he used his experience with sail (the training ship Newport was a sail/steam hybrid) on board the bark Dirigio. He next served on Army transports and on freighters of the Isthmian Steamship Company.

United States Lines He joined the United States Lines in 1922 and advanced up the officer ranks on the liners George Washington and Leviathan. On January 28 Captain Fried and the crew of the America were honored in a ticker tape parade. Manning even appeared in a cigarette advertisement. At that time celebrity endorsements were common in tobacco advertising but Manning reputedly was a non-smoker. In 1942 he was promoted to Commander and captain of the training ship American Navigator. Later in the war he was superintendent of the US Maritime Service training stations at Huntington, Hoffman Island, and Avalon.

Postwar and the Blue Riband At the end of the war, Manning returned to the United States Lines. He was named Commodore Management was furious over Manning appearing to be racing against Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. Manning would make only a few relief trips after that. He was brought back for the official presentation of the Blue Riband Hales Trophy on November 12, 1952. Also a pilot, she had met him in 1934 and shared his interest in aviation. Their union produced a daughter, Florence, but they divorced in 1942. they remained married until his death.

While Manning's formal education was limited, he was self-taught on several subjects and could quote lines from Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. He was regarded as an excellent dancer and the ship stewards sent him the best dance partners.