Project 10073 Record Card — Mountain Lake, New Jersey, 5 December 1957

On December 5, 1957, at 2357 hours, a retired military individual reported a sighting in Mountain Lake, New Jersey. The witness, who identified themselves as having extensive experience as an Air Force pilot, observed an aircraft approaching from the east at an estimated altitude of 5,000 feet and a ground speed of 250 MPH. The witness described the object as having tiny yellow flames flickering along its leading edge and a tail light that burned continuously rather than flashing. The witness noted that the object made no sound. A second aircraft, which the witness assumed was a conventional airliner, was observed following the first at a distance of several miles. The witness expressed confusion regarding the nature of the first object, noting that they were a frequent airline passenger and familiar with aviation. The report was forwarded to the Commanding Officer at Mitchel Air Force Base. Official evaluation of the report concluded that there was nothing unusual about the sighting, attributing the observation to standard aircraft traffic on established airways. Handwritten annotations on the report further dismiss the sighting, stating 'Not a UFO' and 'Definitely aircraft.'