Godman Army Airfield
Encyclopedia
Godman Army Airfield is a military airport
located on the Fort Knox United States Army
post
in Hardin County
, Kentucky
, United States
. It has four runways and is used entirely by the United States Army Aviation Branch
.
. Its initial mission was to support Army forces at Fort Knox
. In the build-up of the Army prior to the United States' entry into World War II and the establishment of the United States Army Air Forces
, the 73d Observation Group
was established at the airfield in November 1941, assigned to First Air Force
. The 73d's mission was to train and provide tactical reconnaissance in support of Army maneuvers.
After the United States entered World War II
, Godman AAF became an First Air Force
group training station for B-25 Mitchell
medium bomber groups. The 387th and 391st Bombardment Groups formed and trained at Godman in 1943 prior to their overseas deployment.
In 1944, the mission changed to replacement training, and the 477th Bombardment Group became the B-25 Replacement Training unit. It trained replacement personnel prior to their reassignment to combat units overseas. It remained at Godman after World War II, and the airfield was designated as a permanent station of the USAAF.
In 1946, Godman was reassigned to the Tenth Air Force
as part of the Air Force Reserve. The 315th Army Air Force Base Unit became the host organization, and the 477th Bomb Group remained as the flying organization until its inactivation in October 1946. Redesignated as the 315th Air Force Base Unit in September 1947 with the establishment of the United States Air Force, it was further redesignated as the 2236th Air Force Reserve Training Center in July 1948. Concurrently, Godman Field was renamed Godman Air Force Base.
On October 10, 1950, during the Korean War
, President Harry S. Truman
placed the Kentucky Air National Guard
's 123d Fighter-Bomber Group
on active duty and moved the unit from Standiford Field to Godman Field. The airfield was then reassigned to Tactical Air Command
. The unit’s P-51 Mustang
s were ferried to the Far East, and several of the unit’s pilots volunteered for combat duty over Korea.
In addition to the Kentucky ANG, the New Jersey ANG's 108th Fighter-Bomber Wing
was federalized and brought into active service on 1 March 1951, was assigned to Strategic Air Command
's 40th Air Division
at Turner AFB, Georgia. In its activated configuration, the wing was composed of the 141st Fighter Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard
, the 149th Fighter Squadron of the Virginia Air National Guard
and the 153rd Fighter Squadron of the Mississippi Air National Guard
. During its federal service period, the wing trained to conduct long range bombardment escort missions. On 9 December 1951, the wing was reassigned to Godman AFB. It was relieved from active service on 1 December 1952 and returned to the control of the New Jersey ANG.
After the 1953 armistice in Korea, Godman was phased down and the 4430th Air Base Wing became the host organization at the base. Air Force activities were ended and the base was inactivated on 31 December 1953. It was subsequnetly transferred to the United States Army
and became a light aircraft and helicopter airfield in support of Fort Knox, renamed as Godman Army Airfield.
At the time a flight of four P-51 fighters were on a routine training flight under the supervision of Flight Commander Captain Thomas Mantell. They were flying towards Godman Field when, at approximately 2:45pm, the control tower officer in charge ordered them to investigate the strange object. Captain Mantell acknowledged, but a short time later one of the pilots requested permission to break away as he was running low on fuel, leaving the three remaining aircraft to head in the direction of the strange object.
The next message came from one of the three remaining pilots, who said he was losing his bearings and was becoming fearful of becoming lost. He too was granted permission to break away and return, but he would be accompanied by one of the two remaining pilots, who was instructed to accompany his colleague to guide him safely back to base. The only aircraft now in pursuit of the object was that piloted by Captain Thomas Mantell.
At 15,000 feet Mantell contacted the control tower and stated that he had the object in sight and was climbing to investigate. A short time later Mantell reported that he was closing on the object but that was the last message broadcast. Mantell’s aircraft crashed approximately 130 miles down range from Godman Field.
The official Air Technical Information Command report on the crash stated that they were of the opinion that Captain Mantell lost consciousness due to oxygen starvation. The trimmed aircraft had continued to climb until increasing altitude caused a sufficient loss of power for it to level out. The aircraft then began to turn left due to torque and as the wing drooped, so did the nose, until it was in a tight turning spiral. The uncontrolled descent resulted in excessive speed causing the aircraft to disintegrate. It is believed that Captain Mantell never regained consciousness. This was borne out by the fact that the canopy lock was still in place after the crash, discounting any attempt to abandon the aircraft. They also stated that the UFO was in no way responsible for the crash.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located on the Fort Knox United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
post
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
in Hardin County
Hardin County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 94,174 people, 34,497 households, and 25,355 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 37,673 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has four runways and is used entirely by the United States Army Aviation Branch
United States Army Aviation Branch
The Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
.
History
Godman Army Airfield was established about 1937 by the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. Its initial mission was to support Army forces at Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
. In the build-up of the Army prior to the United States' entry into World War II and the establishment of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, the 73d Observation Group
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
The 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany...
was established at the airfield in November 1941, assigned to First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
. The 73d's mission was to train and provide tactical reconnaissance in support of Army maneuvers.
After the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Godman AAF became an First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
group training station for B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bomber groups. The 387th and 391st Bombardment Groups formed and trained at Godman in 1943 prior to their overseas deployment.
In 1944, the mission changed to replacement training, and the 477th Bombardment Group became the B-25 Replacement Training unit. It trained replacement personnel prior to their reassignment to combat units overseas. It remained at Godman after World War II, and the airfield was designated as a permanent station of the USAAF.
In 1946, Godman was reassigned to the Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
as part of the Air Force Reserve. The 315th Army Air Force Base Unit became the host organization, and the 477th Bomb Group remained as the flying organization until its inactivation in October 1946. Redesignated as the 315th Air Force Base Unit in September 1947 with the establishment of the United States Air Force, it was further redesignated as the 2236th Air Force Reserve Training Center in July 1948. Concurrently, Godman Field was renamed Godman Air Force Base.
On October 10, 1950, during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
placed the Kentucky Air National Guard
Kentucky Air National Guard
The Kentucky Air National Guard is a subordinate air force unit of the United States National Guard. It is located in the state of Kentucky. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission.-People:...
's 123d Fighter-Bomber Group
123d Airlift Wing
The 123d Airlift Wing is a Kentucky Air National Guard unit, part of the United States Air Force. It is located at Louisville International Airport, Kentucky.-History:...
on active duty and moved the unit from Standiford Field to Godman Field. The airfield was then reassigned to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
. The unit’s P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s were ferried to the Far East, and several of the unit’s pilots volunteered for combat duty over Korea.
In addition to the Kentucky ANG, the New Jersey ANG's 108th Fighter-Bomber Wing
108th Air Refueling Wing
The 108th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard tasked with aerial refueling and other air mobility missions. It is based at McGuire Air Force Base and operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command . The current Commander of the 108th is...
was federalized and brought into active service on 1 March 1951, was assigned to Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
's 40th Air Division
40th Air Division
The 40th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
at Turner AFB, Georgia. In its activated configuration, the wing was composed of the 141st Fighter Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard
New Jersey Air National Guard
The New Jersey Air National Guard consists of almost 2300 Guardsmen from New Jersey.The New Jersey Air National Guard is governed through the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs....
, the 149th Fighter Squadron of the Virginia Air National Guard
Virginia Air National Guard
The Virginia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Virginia. It is, along with the Virginia Army National Guard, an element of the Virginia National Guard...
and the 153rd Fighter Squadron of the Mississippi Air National Guard
Mississippi Air National Guard
The Mississippi Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is, along with the Mississippi Army National Guard, an element of the Mississippi National Guard...
. During its federal service period, the wing trained to conduct long range bombardment escort missions. On 9 December 1951, the wing was reassigned to Godman AFB. It was relieved from active service on 1 December 1952 and returned to the control of the New Jersey ANG.
After the 1953 armistice in Korea, Godman was phased down and the 4430th Air Base Wing became the host organization at the base. Air Force activities were ended and the base was inactivated on 31 December 1953. It was subsequnetly transferred to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and became a light aircraft and helicopter airfield in support of Fort Knox, renamed as Godman Army Airfield.
UFOs: Mantell Incident
The Thomas Mantell incident began at 1:20pm. On 7 January 1948. when the control tower operators at Godman Field Army Air Force Base, Kentucky sighted a strange unidentified airborne object hovering in the sky close to the base. Several senior officers were summoned, and the base Operations and Intelligence Officer were soon joined by the Commanding Officer, but none were able to identify the slowly rotating object.At the time a flight of four P-51 fighters were on a routine training flight under the supervision of Flight Commander Captain Thomas Mantell. They were flying towards Godman Field when, at approximately 2:45pm, the control tower officer in charge ordered them to investigate the strange object. Captain Mantell acknowledged, but a short time later one of the pilots requested permission to break away as he was running low on fuel, leaving the three remaining aircraft to head in the direction of the strange object.
The next message came from one of the three remaining pilots, who said he was losing his bearings and was becoming fearful of becoming lost. He too was granted permission to break away and return, but he would be accompanied by one of the two remaining pilots, who was instructed to accompany his colleague to guide him safely back to base. The only aircraft now in pursuit of the object was that piloted by Captain Thomas Mantell.
At 15,000 feet Mantell contacted the control tower and stated that he had the object in sight and was climbing to investigate. A short time later Mantell reported that he was closing on the object but that was the last message broadcast. Mantell’s aircraft crashed approximately 130 miles down range from Godman Field.
The official Air Technical Information Command report on the crash stated that they were of the opinion that Captain Mantell lost consciousness due to oxygen starvation. The trimmed aircraft had continued to climb until increasing altitude caused a sufficient loss of power for it to level out. The aircraft then began to turn left due to torque and as the wing drooped, so did the nose, until it was in a tight turning spiral. The uncontrolled descent resulted in excessive speed causing the aircraft to disintegrate. It is believed that Captain Mantell never regained consciousness. This was borne out by the fact that the canopy lock was still in place after the crash, discounting any attempt to abandon the aircraft. They also stated that the UFO was in no way responsible for the crash.
See also
- Kentucky World War II Army AirfieldsKentucky World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Kentucky for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
External links
- Godman Army Airfield at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...