Red Streak UFO Sighted Near Mitchel AFB

Summary

A civilian observer reported a red-streaked object over the horizon on August 19, 1959, six miles west of Mitchel AFB in New York. The object, described as long as a telephone pole, had a pink head with a tail when overhead. As it ascended, the red exhaust shortened but remained visible. It traveled at high speed and altitude, following a straight path toward the southeast before fading out. The witness observed it for three minutes without any technical aid.

Investigators concluded it might be a high-flying jet aircraft reflecting the setting sun. Although no photos or radar were used, the officer in charge considered this a plausible explanation. The report did not rule out other possibilities but found insufficient data for a definitive assessment.