Jan. 7, 1948. Kentucky-Ohio (BBU)
1-7 p.m. (CST). Mantell case. Kentucky ANG pilot Capt Thomas F. Mantell, Jr., was killed in an F-51D fighter crash at about 3:18 p.m. about 4 miles SSW of Franklin, Ky., (at about 36°40.4’ N, 86°35’ N) about 92 miles S (more exactly 202° azimuth) from Godman Control Tower, in an attempt to intercept an unidentified object described in one of Mantell’s last radio reports to Godman AAF tower, Ft. Knox, Ky., (37°54’23” N, 85°58’00” W, about 725 ft elevation) as “metallic and tremendous in size.” USAF 1st Lt. Orner, Commander, 733-5 Detachment, AACS, tracked unidentified white light with red coloration by weather tracking theodolite from Godman Field hangar at 240° azimuth 8° elevation at 5:35 p.m., which disappeared over the horizon at 250° azimuth 0° elevation. See later sightings at Lockbourne AFB and Clinton County AFB, Ohio (below). Expanded & greatly updated version, including new SKYHOOK map