C04282-10a President Reagan meeting to present the crew of the Double Eagle II, Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman, with the Congressionally authorized gold medals in recognition of their distinguished feat as aviation pioneers in the Oval Office 10/05/1981. Reagan White House Photographs; White House Photographic Collection; Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, CA.
Benjamin L. Abruzzo
American, 1930 - 1985
Place of BirthRockford, IL, USA
Place of DeathAlbequerque, NM, USA
Benjamin Abruzzo, togehter with Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman formed the crew iof the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean on August 17, 1978 in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours 6 minutes after leaving Presque Isle, Maine
Benjamin Abruzzo and Larry Newman were also part of the four-man crew for the Double Eagle V, the first balloon to make a successful crossing of the Pacific Ocean. It launched from Nagashima, Japan on November 10, 1981, and landed in Mendocino National Forest in California 84 hours and 31 minutes later, travelling a record 5,768 miles (9,283 km).
Benjamin Abruzzo and Larry Newman were also part of the four-man crew for the Double Eagle V, the first balloon to make a successful crossing of the Pacific Ocean. It launched from Nagashima, Japan on November 10, 1981, and landed in Mendocino National Forest in California 84 hours and 31 minutes later, travelling a record 5,768 miles (9,283 km).