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This 92-page Project Blue Book file, released through The Black Vault, covers the 7 January 1948 sighting at Godman Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky. It holds control tower witness reports, a record of the P-51 pursuit led by Captain Thomas Mantell, AMC requests for theodolite readings and weather data, and astronomical tables for Venus and the Moon. One analysis concludes the object was not Venus and calls the sighting unexplained. The file also includes a 1964 letter to the Simpson County coroner about Mantell's death.
“Anderson”2 pages
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At approx 1300 hrs State Police reported flying object near Elizabethtown. Ten minutes later sighted near Madisonville. A third call reported it over Lexington. (all south of Codman) Tower then alerted. Tower sighted object at 1445 and notified Col Hix who went immediately to tower where he observed the object thru 8-power binocs. Object also lined up with sighting bar. Three P-51 planes were already pursuing the thing on a course of 215°. (One pilot reported the thing to be traveling at 180 MPH) Col Hix reported the object appeared to the south and near the sun. "It was very white and looked like an umbrella," he stated. "I thought it was a celestial body but I can't account for the fact it didn't move." "I just don't know what it was." Appeared about 1/4 size of full moon and white in color. Thru the binocs it appeared to have a red border at the bottom at times and a red border at the top at times. It remained stationary (seemingly) for 1-1/2 hours. RELIABILITY: CO of Godman Fld. Obj chased by National Guard planes and followed from the ground by State Highway patrolman. See corroborating accounts.
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