Two points:
-
the Mustangs (F-51s) of the Kentucky Air National Guard were not “surplus.” In the same way, the F-16s, A-10s, B-1s and KC-135’s of today’s Air National Guard can hardly be considered “surplus.” (Some regular USAF units were still equipped with F-51s in 1948, too.)
-
I have flown out of Godman Army Airfield, and I always thought that the Venus story to be very believable. Venus can appear VERY large and VERY bright in the hours preceding sunset. It also appears in the sky SW of GAAF, the direction the fighters flew. Which, by the way, is inconsistent with the ground observations of the UFO. Maysville, KY, is NE of GAAF. Subsequent sightings were Irvington and Owensboro, KY, which are due west of GAAF. Franklin, KY, where Mantell crashed, is SSW of GAAF. It is also interesting that the surviving pilots did not report seeing a large object, but something small and indistinct. As Venus sinks in the sky, it can appear brighter and larger (just like the moon does) and give the appearance that the pilot is closing on it. (Hypoxia would help in that regard.) Mantell’s last transmission is consistent with that, “The object is directly ahead of me and slightly above, and is now moving at about my speed or better. I am trying to close in for a better look.”
My own opinion is that what was seen by ground observers over Maysville, Irvington, and Owensboro may have been an experimental balloon. I believe, however, that what the pilots of the 165th Fighter Squadron chased was not the reported UFO. They went in a direction at least 60 degrees off from the ground observations and their observations of the target were inconsistent with reports from the ground. Their observations were, however, consistent with my own experience flying from GAAF when Venus appears in the afternoon sky.