Adventurer. He was a member of the two crews that were the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in hot air balloons. Although a native of Rockford, Illinois he adopted New Mexico as his home state after being stationed there at Kirtland Air Force Base while in the United States Air Force. It was in New Mexico that he developed an interest in hot air ballooning. In 1978 he along with, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman left Presque Isle, Maine and landed six days later in France. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their successful journey. Three years later his crew crossed the Pacific Ocean in a trip that set a world balloon distance record. He died in a small airplane crash, but his name lives on with the establishment of the Anderson-Abruzzo International Ballooning Museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Adventurer. He was a member of the two crews that were the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in hot air balloons. Although a native of Rockford, Illinois he adopted New Mexico as his home state after being stationed there at Kirtland Air Force Base while in the United States Air Force. It was in New Mexico that he developed an interest in hot air ballooning. In 1978 he along with, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman left Presque Isle, Maine and landed six days later in France. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their successful journey. Three years later his crew crossed the Pacific Ocean in a trip that set a world balloon distance record. He died in a small airplane crash, but his name lives on with the establishment of the Anderson-Abruzzo International Ballooning Museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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