Manchester Boyington Watson, Jr. was born on September 7, 1921 in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina. He was the son of Manchester and Ruby Frontis Watson. He served in the Army Air Force, 23rd Fighter Group, 74th Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Force during World War II and was Killed in Action aboard P-51 Mustang which crashed during an attack on a Chinese port. It was last seen to crash into dock warehouse after making a skip bombing run on a dock area. He is now buried in the Ridge Spring Cemetery, Ridge Spring, Saluda County, South Carolina, USA.

Lt Watson was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.