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Remembered by few' Yet many on that day of the Mantell crash! Towns people still speak of it
from time to time and still wonder. Some people even say, "Thank you sir, for protecting us from the
unfriendly skies?? January 7th 1948
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Moment for family, friends and the people who worked so hard to make this possible. One of them is Mr.Lee Trail &
Franklin County Archives and others who devoted their time to this great task in saying a final farewell to a
great soldier, father, friend and hero!!

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Marker To Franklin Kentucky's Son And A Real True Hero! Captain Thomas F. Mantell Jr.



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CAPTAIN THOMAS FRANCIS MANTELL JR.

CAPT. Thomas F. Mantell Jr.was born in Franklin, Kentucky, 30 June 1922. He was a graduate of Male High School, in Louisville. On 16 June 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps, graduating Flight School on 30 June 1943.

PHOTO AT RIGHT: Mantell (center) with buddies at Army Air Corps Flight School, 1942.   aircorps

During World War II, Mantell was assigned to the 440th Troop Carrier Group, 96th Troop Carrier Squadron, 9th Air Force. He was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal w/3OLCs for heroism. Following the war he returned to Louisville, joining the newly organized Kentucky Air National Guard, as Flight Leader, "C" Flight, 165th Fighter Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard on 16 February 1947.

 

PHOTO BELOW: Mantell (front row, second from the right) with pilots of the 165th Fighter Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard.

 
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                                                              PHOTO BELOW:P-51 Mustang of the Kentucky Air National Guard

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On 7 January 1948, while on a training flight with three other P-51Ds (Mustang) Mantell was directed by the flight tower at Godman Field to pursue an unidentified flying object. While in pursuit of the object, he died in plane crash near Franklin, Simpson County, Kentucky.

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