Loading AI tools
American Army officer and photographer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albert William Stevens (March 13, 1886 – March 26, 1949) was an officer of the United States Army Air Corps, balloonist, and aerial photographer.
Albert William Stevens | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Belfast, Maine, U.S. | March 13, 1886
Died | March 26, 1949 63) Redwood City, California, U.S. | (aged
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | Army Air Corps |
Rank | Captain |
Commands | Explorer II |
Wars | World War II |
Awards |
|
He was born on March 13, 1886, in Belfast, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1909 with a master's degree in electrical engineering.
While flying over South America in 1930, Stevens took the first photograph of the Earth in a way that the horizon's curvature is visible.[1] To photograph through haze, Stevens often employed infrared-sensitive film for long-distance aerial photography.[2]
Accompanied by Lieutenant Charles D. McAllister of the Army Air Corps, Stevens took the first photograph of the Moon's shadow projected onto the Earth during a solar eclipse in August, 1932.[3]
On July 29, 1934, Stevens and two other Army Air Corps officers, Major William Kepner and Captain Orvil Arson Anderson, ascended in a specially-constructed balloon and gondola named Explorer I over north-western Nebraska in an attempt to exceed the current altitude record for manned flight. However, nearing the current record height, the balloon envelope ruptured, sending the gondola plunging to earth.[4] Fortunately, all three crew were able to eventually exit and parachute to earth before the gondola crashed into a farm field.[5]
On November 11, 1935, Stevens, along with Captain Anderson, made a record balloon ascent from the "Stratobowl" (a natural depression) near Rapid City, South Dakota.[6] There were 20,000 spectators, while millions of people listened to a live NBC radio broadcast.[7] Their sealed gondola Explorer II floated to 72,395 feet (22,066 m), nearly 14 miles (23 km), a world altitude record unequaled until 1946 and a balloon record unequaled until 1956.[8][9][10][11]
Stevens was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – one award for each of his two famous balloon flights.
He died on March 26, 1949, in Redwood City, California.