MOD file DEFE 24/2032/1

.. \REDACTION ON ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I"
(4)
Most of these reports (if not all!) were, I have reason to
believe, their observations of a Russian 2nd stage launch
vehicle of the Tsyklon class, which had previously (about
midnight) put.into orbit a Cosmos 2238 Satellite. Its return to
earth had occurred at approx 1.05am and was first seen over
Innis, Ireland at that time. From its orbital direc~ion of 65
degrees it would have traversed the sky at a height of between
80kms and lOOkms in a S.E. direction. If it did cross Innis at
1.05am and I have reliable evidence to support this, then it
would have crossed Lands End shortly after - approx l.lOam.
Given the officers locations in Cornwall & Devon, it .is I
believe reasonable to assume that what they saw was the re-
entry of this space vehicle. However, at this time a final
conclusion cannot be given, until receipt of a report from a
lllllltinvestigation team in Ireland, which will hopefully
confirm the spent rockets course over Innis.
This leaves me with the proble.m· of the reports from Sgt
and Sgt they tell a different story!
, in company with P.C. lllllf, were approaching the
the coast town of Lynton, Nth Devon, at l.lOam. Their direction
of travel was due north and as they neared the town they
noticed 2 very bright lights approaching from the north across
the Bristol Channel. Stopping their patrol car they watched as
the lights drew nearer to them. The lights or object(s) passed
to the west going in a S.Easterly direction. As it I they
passed over, they noticed a third light, much smaller than the
other two and positioned somewhere between them. Sgt
states - that as it pas~ed silently by, he got the impression
that the lights were attache? to a very large object, but could
not make out any shape of other details. As it went away from
from them, both officers saw two white vapour like trails
/5