Franklin in Simpson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Captain Thomas F. Mantell, Jr.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 7, 2015

1. Captain Thomas F. Mantell, Jr. Marker

Inscription. Born in Franklin, Ky., 30 June 1922. Graduated Male High School, Louisville. Joined army Air Corps, 16 June 1942. Graduated Flight School, 30 June 1943. During WWII, Mantell assigned to 440th Troop Carrier Group, 96th Troop Carrier Squadron, 9th Air Force. Awarded Distuinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal w/3 OLCs for heroism. Following the war returned to Louisville. Joined newly organized Kentucky Air National Guard, assigned as Flight Leader, "C" Flight, 165th Fighter Squadron. Kentucky Air National Guard on 16 February 1947. 7 January 1948, while on training flight with three other P-51Ds (Mustang) Mantell was directed by flight tower at Godman Field to pursue an unidentified flying object. While in pursuit of object, died in plane crash near this site. The story of Mantell's death while chasing UFO made headlines across the country. Intense military investigation of incident became part of Project SIGN later BLUEBOOK, the military's investigations into UFOs. Much speculation and conjecture has been written about the incident, it is still uncertain what Mantell was pursuing at the time of the crash. Mantell is the

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first flight casualty of the Kentucky Air National Guard. Buried Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Ky.

Erected by the Kentucky Historical Society & the Kentucky Department of Highways.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 7, 1948.

Location. 36° 40.063′ N, 86° 33.461′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Kentucky, in Simpson County. It is on Steele Road 0.1 miles south of South Main Street (U.S. 31W), on the right when traveling north. Located near the Simpson County Tourism Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 81 Steele Rd, Franklin KY 42134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Pennyroyal Region.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what

Marker near the Simpson County Tourism Center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 7, 2015

2. Marker near the Simpson County Tourism Center.

was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Duel at Sunrise" (a few steps from this marker); "War Clouds" (a few steps from this marker); "Frontier Portraits" (a few steps from this marker); "Bringing in the Sheaves" (within shouting distance of this marker); "High Noon for a New Century" (within shouting distance of this marker); "Mule Day Afternoon" (within shouting distance of this marker); "School Days, School Days" (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of T.O. Chisholm / Noted Hymn Writer (1866-1960) (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia article. (Submitted on May 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. UFO Casebook file on incident. (Submitted on May 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
3. NICAP Analysis of the Thomas Mantell UFO Case (.pdf). (Submitted on May 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View south of marker and tourism office. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 7, 2015

3. View south of marker and tourism office.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,950 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on January 13, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 15, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.