HC Deb 28 November 1968 vol 774 c176W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and elsewhere, about unidentified flying objects recently seen over Buckhurst Hill and other parts of Essex; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. John Morris

We received numerous reports of bright lights seen in the sky over Essex and other parts of Eastern England on the evening of 20th November, 1968. The source of these lights has been identified as the rocket of the U.S.S.R. satellite Cosmos 253 which burnt upon re-entering the earth's atmosphere.