THE FIRST FATAL UFO ENCOUNTER: Pilot Thomas Mantell’s Terrifying Sky High Alien Chase

Download the FREE WORD SEARCH and CROSSWORD For This Episode: https://weirddarkness.com/ThomasMantell In 1948, a decorated pilot chased a massive unidentified object into the sky — and what happened next remains one of the most mysterious and controversial UFO deaths in American history. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy. DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. IN THIS EPISODE: Most of us would say it’s difficult to understand how someone who was responsible for deliberately killing hundreds of people could be elevated to the status of a hero. However, those who speak in favor of Gulia Tofana say her motives and actions were justified. (She Poisoned 600 Men) *** During the last 300 years, at least 200 cases of Spontaneous Human Combustion have been registered around the world. What is causing this to happen, and can it be stopped? (The Unexplained Phenomenon of Spontaneous Human Combustion) *** Can an ambulance be haunted? The story I share with you might convince you it is. (Ambulance Turmoil) *** What led Captain Thomas Mantell on a chase to his death? (The Thomas Mantell UFO Encounter) *** Does something evil reside in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles? (Hollywood Forever) *** The U.S. civil war was the bloodiest of all American wars – but the bloodiest was a Confederate prison holding Union soldiers. (Hell Hole of the Confederacy) *** Barbara Forrest and Mary Ashford lived in different centuries, but they died in chillingly similar ways. (The Eerie Similarities of the Erdington Murders) *** Is it possible that Bill Ramsey is, in fact, a real life werewolf? (The Southend Werewolf) *** AND MORE! CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:02:13.380 = Show Open 00:04:28.402 = The Unexplained Phenomenon of Spontaneous Human Combustion 00:09:57.484 = Ambulance Turmoil 00:11:58.908 = The Thomas Mantell UFO Encounter 00:20:56.904 = The Woman Known As “E” 00:28:54.484 = The Poisoned 600 Men 00:34:49.466 = Hell Hole Of The Confederacy 00:54:13.585 = Hollywood Forever 00:57:44.481 = The Eerie Similarities of the Erdington Murders” 01:02:02.281 = Bill Ramsey, The Southend Werewolf 01:11:59.497 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… https://weirddarkness.com/ThomasMantell “She Poisoned 600 Men” by Ellen Lloyd for AncientPages.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y5pkrmdh “The Unexplained Phenomenon of Spontaneous Human Combustion” posted at MessageToEagle.com: (link no longer exists) “Ambulance Turmoil” from the GhostsNGhouls website (link no longer exists) “The Thomas Mantell UFO Encounter” by Les Hewitt for HistoricMysteries.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2ayxysc “The Woman Known as E” by George Boggs, dedicated to Ginny (ElviraDark6) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/willythewave “Hell Hole Of The Confederacy” by unknown author (link no longer exists) “Hollywood Forever” posted at YourGhostStories.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ndfwpx3r “The Eerie Similarities of the Erdington Murders” posted at TheLineUp.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5h46wywn “Bill Ramsey, The Southend Werewolf” from Paranorms.com (website no longer exists) ===== ( Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases. ) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. ===== Originally aired: August, 2018 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list