Editing MUFOB ARCHIVE/04 1966 MUFORG Bulletin 02 (section)

== BOOTLE UFO SIGHTINGS == 
Alan Rawlinson provides the following sketches and details from his investigations of UFO sightings in Bootle.

(Numbers refer to numbers on sketches.)

=== 1. February 4th 6.30 p.m. ===
Brighter than moon. Hovered, changed brightness and throbbed, appeared solid. White, with hazy, blue line along centre and orange light on one end. Resembled cigar with end chopped off. Appeared in W, then disappeared “in a flash” towards E. Elevation 45-50 degs. Blurred edges.  
Two witnesses watched it for about 5 mins. Size: twoce as big as a plane. Distance: 3 miles.  
Weather: clear sky, fairly warm, no wind, just after rain. Comparative size: twice as big as 6d at arm’s length.  
Shortly after object disappeared, three planes appeared and went off in same direction.

=== 2. February 5th 6.0 p.m. ===
Round object seen entering a bluish-white cloud. Two witnesses. Visible for 4-5 mins.

=== 3. February 4th 6.0 p.m. ===
Brighter than the moon. Hovered, rotated, changed brightness, throbbed. Solid. Blurred edges. First seen in E, then increased speed and shot off in N direction, leaving trail of white light. Elevation: 60 degs. White glow.  
One witness watched for 3-4 mins. Height: 600 ft. Distance: 1/3 mile. Speed: faster than jet plane.  
Weather: clear sky, cold, no wind, moist.  
Comparative size: shilling at arm’s length.

=== 4. February 3rd 11.30 p.m. ===
Brighter than the moon. Throbbed and left trail of light. Appeared to be solid object, glowing with white light. Sharp edges.  
First came from NE, then climbed higher and disappeared in N direction. Approximate elevation when first seen: 30 degs.  
Two witnesses, who watched it from bedroom window, described it as a “luminous ball”. Had no idea what it was. Visible for about 3 minutes. Photographed on FP3 film with W. German camera set at f3.5, 1/25th, focused on infinity.  
Comparative size: “as large as the sun”.  
Weather: clear sky, cool, dry, light breeze.

=== 5. February 4th 8.30 p.m. ===
Brighter than moon. Rotated and throbbed, appeared solid, had sharp edges. First appeared from W, then shot off in E direction. Elevation 30 degs.  
Eight witnesses were travelling at 25 m.p.h. in car when first seen. Visible for 4-5 mins. Bigger than plane and faster. Height: 600 ft. Distance ½ mile.  
Weather: no clouds, cool, no wind, moist, just after rain.

=== Possible Explanations === 
The [[MUFORG]] Committee, at their meeting on April 2nd, considered some possib;e explanations for the sightings. It will be seen, though, that these explanations depend on the theory that the witnesses may have unwittingly exaggerated, or made inaccurate observations.

Possibly the Russian satellite, Cosmos 97.  
Insufficient information given. Possibly a satellite.  
No explanation suggested.  
It has been suggested that this may have been a fireball, or even ball lightning. However, the photograph shows a well-defined, round object, with what seem to be tiny wisps of vapour trailing from it.  
No explanation suggested.