[meteorite-list] NPA 02-20-1948 Vapor Trail Followed Fireball, Meteor Expert Seeks Fragments

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Oct 6 11:41:44 2004
Message-ID: <BAY4-F2Hiu3fQtYdVzD00005c4d_at_hotmail.com>

Paper: Nebraska State Journal
City: Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: Friday, February 20, 1948
Page: 1

Vapor Trail Followed Fireball; Meteor Expert Seeks Fragments

     RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Crews of two B-29 planes said Thursday there was
a vapor trail behind a "ball of fire" before it exploded Wednesday in the
sky somewhere near northwest Kansas.
     The fliers first saw the fireball, trailing vapor, while 10,000 feet
over Limon, Colo. They estimated its location as 100 miles southwest of
their position, and its altitude as much higher than planes.
     Capt. Howard B. Berodt, Bernnett, la. and 1st Lt. Leonard P. Marchese,
New York City, piloted the ships. They gave their account after returning to
their base at Weaver field. Rapid City, S.D. The fliers saw the ball of fire
explode.
     An hour after the explosion the cloud of smoke was still visible, high
above the planes. The fliers fixed their position at the time as "directly
east of McCook.

     THE EXPLOSION, believed to have come from a meteor high above the
Oberlin, Kas., area, was observed in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Nebraska and Colorado. It led to numerous reports of aircraft disasters.
     Oscar Monnig, secretary of the National Meteorological society, said at
Fort Worth, Tex., he felt sure the fire ball was a meteor disintegrating.
     The fiery object was first seen near Colorado Springs, Colo. traveling
eastward at great altitude. As it exploded in the Oberlin area, windows
were shattered and residents reported a red ball exploded "in a fiercely
brilliant white flash."

     DR. H. H. NININGER, director of the meteor crater observatory at
Flagstaff, Ariz., left Thursday for Kansas to attempt o find meteor
fragments.
     C. L. Jacoby of Norton, Kas., Telegram, said excited residents phoned
that the explosion was "of atomic proportions." He said there was no damage
in the area, altho windows were rattled.

(end)

PDF copies of articles posted today are available upon requst.

Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com
Received on Wed 06 Oct 2004 11:36:08 AM PDT