Ben Abruzzo

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Ben Abruzzo

1930-1985

American balloonist who took part in two historic ocean crossings. In 1978, along with Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman, Abruzzo flew from Maine to France aboard the Double Eagle II to make the first Atlantic crossing by ballon. In 1981 as captain of the helium-filled Double Eagle V he crash landed in California after making the first balloon flight across the Pacific Ocean with Newman and two other crew members.