Thomas Mantell

Captain Thomas Francis Mantell Jr. was a United States Air Force serviceman and a World War II veteran. Mantell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for courageous action during the Normandy landings, and an Air Medal for heroism.
In 1948 Mantell became involved in a presumed UFO incident and died on the same day, when his aircraft ultimately crashed near Franklin, Kentucky.
Mantell was the first member of the Kentucky Air National Guard to die in flight.<ref name ="Kentucky"/>
Life
Mantell graduated from the Male High School in Louisville. On 16 June 1942, Mantell joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, finishing Flight School on 30 June 1943.<ref name ="Kentucky"/> During World War II, he was assigned to the 440th Troop Carrier Group.<ref name ="Kentucky"/> After the war, Mantell returned to Louisville, joining the newly formed Kentucky Air National Guard on 16 February 1947.
On 29 September 2001, the Simpson County Historical Society unveiled a historical marker in honor of Thomas Mantell in his hometown of Franklin. The marker is located at the exit off Interstate 65.<ref name ="Kentucky"/>
UFO incident
On 7 January 1948 the tower man at Godman Army Air Field received a telephone call from the military police saying they had received a call from the Kentucky State Highway Patrol who in turn reported that they were taking calls about something flying over Maysville, Kentucky. The information was brought to the attention of the base operations officer, the intelligence officer, and the base commander Guy F. Hix.<ref name ="Randel"/> None was able to identify the object.<ref name ="Randel"/>
With the unidentified object still visible, Captain Mantell, was asked if he would investigate. Mantell replied he would attempt to intercept and began a spiraling left climb to 14000 and then a continuing climb on a heading of 220 degrees.<ref name ="Randel"/> He next reported that the object was "metallic and it is tremendous in size".<ref name ="Randel"/> With the object still above him, he reported he would continue to climb.<ref name ="Randel"/> Further radio and visual contact with Mantell was lost. A subsequent search revealed the remains of Mantell's aircraft, found scattered over about a half a mile near a farm close to his birthplace of Franklin, Kentucky. Investigators believe that the death was caused by a lack of oxygen above 22,500 feet.<ref name ="Randel"/>

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