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This Project Blue Book case file covers the 7 January 1948 incident at Godman Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky, which the file itself calls the famous "Mantell case." It holds control tower witness statements describing a large, bright object and the three P-51s sent to pursue it, whose flight leader, Mantell, stopped answering after climbing past 15,000 feet. It also includes weather data and Air Materiel Command correspondence. One analysis concludes that the object was not Venus and that the sighting must be considered unexplained.
“Anderson”2 pages
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
At approx 1407, 7 Jan 48, Capt Carter was called by Lt Orner, AACS Detachment Commander, to come to Tower to witness an unidentified aerial object.
Object appeared round and white (whiter than the clouds that passed in front of it) and could be seen thru cirrus clouds.
After observing it thru field glasses for some 3-4 minutes, he called Col Hix's office. Col Hix, Lt Col Wood & Capt Duesler came to the tower shortly thereafter.
Capt Carter then suggested that a group of P-51 aircraft in the vicinity be contacted to pursue the object. T/Sgt Blackwell, Tower Operator, contacted the flight leader to take a look. Three planes proceeded on a heading of approx 230 $ ^{\circ} $ . One of the planes (Mantell's) spotted it at 1200 o'clock position. Another plane relayed "This ks 15,000 ft, let's level out" First speed as relayed by Mantall (180 MPH) Later, "object going up and forward as fast as I am" - or 360 MPH. Mantell then stated he was going to 20,000 ft and if no closer would abandon chase. Last radio contact heard by Capt Carter.
NOTE: Apparently, Mantell blacked out at 20,000 ft or proceeded on since the object apparently appeared closer (if such were the case) and then crashed thru lack of oxygen.
Does not seem to tally with report that the phenomena was "Venus or a comet" Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 75 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.