DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT.The object itself was clearly visible as a massive chunk of rock tumbling over and over as it slowly crossed the sky. It emitted flames at the front, which wrapped around and trailed behind it, leaving a 2-degree wide dense trail of black and brown smoke, from horizon to horizon.
DATE.
I did not record the date or time, but research via the 'Bulawayo Chronicle', (now 'The Chronicle') and the British Meteorological Office archive, has confirmed that the Meteor passed over Bulawayo at about 1555 hrs local time, (South African Mean Time), on Wednesday, 1st November, 1944.
VENUE OF SIGHTING.
I was serving in the Royal Air Force, on an aircrew-training scheme, at the RAF Hillside Camp, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, (Central Africa) and was on Guard duty at the Camp Main Gate. As far as I can remember, Hillside Camp was about 2 miles West of Bulawayo City.
DIRECTION OF TRAJECTORY.
According to the 'Chronicle' newspaper reports, and an RAF Met station, the Meteor was travelling almost due South.
HEIGHT OF OBJECT.
I guess it passed over at about 50,000 feet above ground level.
SIZE OF OBJECT.
Massive. I can compare its size with the wing profile of the Boeing 747's we see over here flying at about 35,000 feet, and I can say categorically that this meteor was not less than twice the size of a 747, ie about 150 - 180 metres (400 - 500 feet) across.
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
It was full daylight; a clear blue sky with scattered small cumulus and a small amount of haze near ground level. Cloud base about 4000 feet. Little or no wind.
ANGLES OF SIGHTING.
The object appeared from out of the clouds to the left of me, at an angle of about 40 degrees above the horizon, passing me with a max angle of subtention of about 60 degrees, then disappearing into the haze and clouds to my right, at approx 40 degrees above the horizon. It's path was straight, and it did not appear to be losing height.
TIME IN VIEW.
The meteor was in view for four and five minutes as it passed slowly over.
SPEED OF THE OBJECT.
I don't think there was a Sonic Bang,(sonic bangs had not been identified as such in those days) but the object was probably travelling close to Mach one. The meteor emitted no sound until it was well past its zenith and disappearing into the clouds. When the sound arrived, it started with a loud Boom sound a kind of swoosh-definitely not a sonic bang-followed by a continuous roar similar to that of very loud thunder, which slowly trailed away as the Meteor moved out of earshot.
NOTE. This event occurred over 60 years ago, but I can remember almost every visual detail.
NORMAN APPLETON.
U.K. 6th August,2006
1. Chronicle source: letter received on 13th March 2001 from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
2. Copy Meteorological Report for the month of November 1944, recorded at the Bulawayo Meteorological Station, received from the Meteorological Office Archive, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton. Exeter. EX2 7NL UK.
*See additional compilation of evidence by my son Dr. Philip Appleton (Caltech astronomer) about the detailed additional sightings, and body of evidence for its trajectory.loud