Last Surviving Member Of The Double Eagle II Balloon Crew

Special to ANN By Glen Moyer, Balloon Federation Of America

Larry Newman, the last surviving member of the crew of the Double Eagle II balloon - first to cross the Atlantic, has died. Newman reportedly succumbed to a 3-year long battle with pancreatic cancer in December.

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In 1978 Newman joined with Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson to fly the Double Eagle II balloon and become the first to fly a balloon across the Atlantic Ocean. Newman also teamed with Abruzzo, Ron Clark and Rocky Aoki on the crew of Double Eagle V, the first balloon to cross the Pacific Ocean. Newman was the last surviving member of the DE II crew. Maxie Anderson died in a ballooning accident along with Don Ida while competing in the 1983 Gordon Bennett balloon race. Ben Abruzzo died in a plane crash in Albuquerque in 1985.

Newman had been involved in aviation almost since infancy. He was a world champion hang glider and a 757 captain with America West Airlines for 10 years among other accomplishments. A "Celebration of Life" will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, AZ from 1600-2100.

FMI: www.bfa.net