您现在的位置: Language Tips> Easy English> Today in History  
   
 





 
August 17
1978: US balloonists' record Atlantic crossing
[ 2007-08-17 09:10 ]

August 17
The balloonists landed near Paris
1978: US balloonists' record Atlantic crossing

England have

Three Americans have made the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by hot air balloon.

Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman and Max Anderson took six days to complete the flight from Maine in the US to France.

It was the second attempt for Mr Abruzzo and Mr Anderson after failing to complete the crossing last September in the first Double Eagle.

This time the three men travelled the 3,000 miles (4,800 km) in a 65-foot (20-metre) diameter gondola named The Spirit of Albuquerque powered by a helium-filled balloon.

It was equipped with a catamaran in case of an emergency sea landing as well as computers for navigation and radio gear for communication.

The Atlantic crossing was achieved officially at just after 2200 on 16 August when Double Eagle II crossed the Irish coast.

But the three pilots wanted to reach le Bourget airfield near Paris, where the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh had once landed.

However, windy conditions in France forced them to overshoot their target.

Instead they landed safely in a wheat field near Miserey about 60 miles (96 km) north west of Paris.

Passing motorists and nearby villagers flocked to congratulate the balloonists - all businessmen from New Mexico.

Souvenir hunters ripped pieces from the balloon before it was salvaged and packed for shipping back to the US along with the gondola.

The most recent attempt before the trio's success was made last month by two Englishmen.

They took off from Newfoundland in Canada but fell short of their goal, Brest in France by just over 100 miles (160 km).  

August 17
Hess was imprisoned after a trial at Nuremberg

1987: Hitler's deputy found dead

Artificially 1969: FilmTheTheAA Rudolf Hess, who was Adolf Hilter's right-hand man at the start of World War II, has been found dead.

The body of Hess, 93, was found in the grounds of Spandau Prison in west Berlin, where he had been held since his conviction in 1946 at the Nuremberg war crimes trial.

There are unconfirmed reports that he may have committed suicide.

For more than 20 years Hess was the only inmate at the prison after the release of Albert Speer and Baldur von Schirach in October 1966.

The Soviet Union - which had joint control of the prison with the US, Britain and France - would not agree to Hess being set free.

They argued that as one of the most senior figures in the Nazi regime he should have been executed.

Rudolf Hess was among the first to join the Nazi party in 1920.

He took part in the abortivecoup attempt in 1923 when Hitler tried to overthrow the Bavarian government and subsequently spent time in jail with the Nazi party leader.

After they were released in 1925, Hess became Hitler's personal assistant and private secretary.

By the time war broke out between Germany and Britain in 1939 Hess was a minister in the Nazi regime whose signature appeared on all new legislation.

In 1941 Rudolf Hess secretly flew to Scotland to try and negotiate a peace treaty but was arrested.

When news of his flight reached Germany he was disowned by Hitler.

Questions regarding Hess' sanity were raised both during his internment in Britain and his trial at Nuremberg.

It is expected his body will be taken to his hometown of Wunsiedel in Bavaria for burial once a post mortem has been carried out.

Vocabulary:
 

gondola: a hanging framework for people to stand in(吊篮;吊架)

abortive: unsuccessful;not developing(失败的)

coup: a clever move or action that obtains the desired result(策略)

disown: to say that one has no connection with(断绝关系)

中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
相关文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本频道最新推荐
 
英13岁男孩“黑色星期五”遭雷击险丧命
聚会上的“临时伴侣” safety date
“牛郎织女”怎么说
“南水北调”、“移民”的英文
七夕特供:让人难以抵抗的表白
翻吧推荐
 
论坛热贴
 
原来国家的名字如此浪漫
Funny lines about getting married
关于工资的英语词汇大全
关于职业装的英语词汇
余光中《尺素寸心》(节选)译