Locations of Fort Knox and Franklin, Kentucky, United States
On 7 January 1948, 25-year-old Captain Thomas F. Mantell, a Kentucky Air National Guard pilot, died when the P-51 Mustang fighter plane he was piloting crashed near Franklin, Kentucky, United States, after being sent in pursuit of an unidentified flying object (UFO). Mantell pursuing the object in a steep climb disregarding suggestions to level his altitude, at high altitude lost consciousness from a lack of oxygen; his plane went into a downward spiral and crashed. The incident was among the most publicized of early UFO reports.[1] Later investigation by Edward J. Ruppelt, Head of United States Air Force's Project Blue Book found that observations from an airforce base control tower particularly of "a parachute" and "an ice cream cone tipped with red" and an astronomer at Vanderbilt University of "a pear-shaped balloon with cables and a basket attached" indicated that Mantell died chasing a Skyhook balloon, likely launched from Clinton County AFB, which, in 1948, was a top-secret project that he would not have known about.[1]:38–39[2][3]
Three F-51D Mustang of the 165th Fighter Squadron, the unit in which Mantell was serving
At 13:15 on 7 January 1948, Godman Army Airfield at Fort Knox, Kentucky, received a call from the Kentucky Highway Patrol of reports of an unusual aerial object near Maysville which could not be immediately identified. At about 13:35 a call was received again with the details of an object which was "circular, about 250 to 300 feet in diameter" and moving with a "pretty good clip" in a westerly direction. At approximately 13:45 the control tower assistant tower operator and then the chief operator at Godman for the first time were able to visually observe the object, which they stated later they had determined was neither an aircraft or weather balloon. [1][4][5] Four F-51D Mustangs of C Flight, 165th Fighter SquadronKentucky Air National Guard, one piloted by Captain Thomas F. Mantell, were told to approach the object. Mantell climbed to 15,000 feet. According to former U.S. Air Force Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, no one could recall Mantell's description of the object, but "saucer historians have credited him with saying" that the object was "metallic and of tremendous size". Mantell continued to climb to 22,000 feet, but his wingmen did not follow due to lack of sufficient oxygen equipment and tried to contact him to request he discontinue his ascent. Since Mantell's aircraft also lacked the requisite oxygen equipment for high-altitude flight, the Army later determined that once Mantell passed 25,000 feet (7,600m) he blacked out from lack of oxygen and his plane began spiraling back towards the ground. Witnesses reported Mantell's Mustang in a circling descent. At 15:50 the control tower at Godman received the report that his plane had crashed on a farm south of Franklin, on Kentucky's border with Tennessee.[1][4][5][6]
Press coverage and rumors
The Mantell incident was reported by newspapers around the nation, and received significant press attention. A number of sensational rumors were also circulated about the crash. According to UFO historian Curtis Peebles, among the rumors were claims that "the flying saucer was a Soviet missile; it was [an alien] spacecraft that shot down [Mantell's fighter] when it got too close; Captain Mantell's body was found riddled with bullets; the body was missing; the plane had completely disintegrated in the air; [and] the wreckage was radioactive."[3] However, no evidence has ever surfaced to substantiate any of these claims, and Air Force investigation specifically refuted some claims, such as the supposedly radioactive wreckage.[6][4][5]
Sensational media featured a variety of unsubstantiated rumors including Mantell describing the object as "metallic", Mantell being wounded by a mysterious "ray", his body being missing from the wreckage, and unexplained tiny holes found in his wrecked aircraft; Kehoe and Ruppelt dismissed these rumors.[7]
Venus had been in the same place in the sky that Mantell's UFO was observed, and the crash was initially thought to have been caused by the pilot mistaking the planet for an unidentified object, a conclusion reached by Project Blue Book investigator J. Allen Hynek in 1948. Hynek later retracted the Venus explanation, concluding it was incorrect because "Venus wasn't bright enough to be seen" by Mantell and the other witnesses, and because a considerable haze was present that would have further obscured the planet in the sky.[1]
In 1952, Project Blue Book identified the object Mantell pursued as a Skyhook balloon, a top-secret project that he would not have known about at the time. The massive spy balloons rose to 100,000 feet in the air.[4][5] The Army determined that Mantell lost consciousness pursuing one into the atmosphere without oxygen.[5] Classified and likely released by another branch of the armed services,[8] the large craft would have been unknown to Mantell or the observers on the ground.[4][9] A report from Madisonville, Kentucky, identified the object as a balloon after viewing it through a telescope. Dr. Seyfert, an astronomer at Vanderbilt University, observed the object through binoculars drifting south of Nashville, Tennessee. He described it as "a pear-shaped balloon with cables and a basket attached."[3]
While UFOs are culturally associated with the mysterious, they are often later identified, particularly as balloons.[10] Skyhook sightings were behind many UFO reports during the 1940s and 1950s.[11][12] The more famous Roswell Incident and 2023 high-altitude sightings were also later attributed to military balloon projects.[10]
Mantell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while piloting a C-47 named Vulture's Delight and towing a glider under heavy anti-aircraft fire.[9]
Following his death in January 1948, Mantell's remains were sent to Louisville for burial in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.[15] He was survived by his wife Peggy and their sons, Thomas and Terry Mantell.
Captain Thomas F Mantell, Jr. Marker in Franklin, KY about the crash of his aircraft and death in pursuit of a UFO in 1948.
On 29 September 2001, the Simpson County Historical Society unveiled a historical marker in honor of Mantell in his hometown of Franklin. The marker is located at the exit off Interstate 65.[15]
This list is incomplete. An asterisk (*) denotes an incident that took place in a U.S. territory, including Alaska and Hawaii prior to statehood. 1930–1939 ◄ 1940–1949 ► 1950–1959
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