Thomas F. Mantell Jr.

Thomas Francis Mantell Jr. (1922-1948) was a U.S. Air Force pilot and World War II veteran.

• Died on January 7, 1948, while pursuing an unidentified aerial object over Franklin, Kentucky
• Flying a P-51 Mustang without supplemental oxygen
• Climbed to high altitude chasing a large, bright object

The object was reported by multiple witnesses including the control tower at Godman Army Airfield at Fort Knox.

• Mantell lost consciousness from hypoxia
• His aircraft broke apart during a steep dive
• Incident occurred over Franklin, Kentucky

The Mantell incident was one of the first UFO cases to result in a fatality.

• Became a landmark case in early UFO history
• Sparked intense public interest and media coverage