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  1. On this day - 17 August

On this day - 17 August

Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.

Image of the newspaper page from Daily Express 17/08/1978

First transatlantic balloon flight

Daily Express 17/08/1978
The Double Eagle II became the first transatlantic balloon flight when it landed on August 17th 1978 near Paris. It had taken off from Maine, USA. The journey took 137 hours and 6 minutes. It was piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman. This was the fourteenth known attempt of the feat.

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