Captain Malcolm D. Ross

U.S. Naval Reserve

Birmingham, Michigan​

 

Captain Malcolm D. Ross, United States Naval Reserve, noted balloonist and world altitude record holder of manned balloon flight, was the recipient of a Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star in  lieu of a second Flying Cross, and was awarded the International Harmon Trophy (Aeronaut) twice by the President of the United States. During the ten year period that Captain Ross was with the Office of Naval Research (1951-1961), he was a key figure in the Navy Strato-Lab high altitude manned balloon program. It was here that many innovations were made and tested on space suits that enabled Ross and his co-pilots to survive in the extremely low temperatures and harsh solar and cosmic radiation at near-space altitudes. This information was integrated into the designs of astronauts’ suits. On May 4, 1961, Ross and Commander Victor Prather, of Lapeer, Michigan, set the world’s altitude record for manned balloon flight--113, 740 feet, or twenty one and a half miles. Prior to this historic achievement, Captain Ross, with Commander M. Lee Lewis, flew the first plastic balloon manned stratospheric flight to 40,000 feet on August 10, 1956. On November 8, 1956, again with Commander Lewis, he flew in a sealed gondola to 76,000 feet, breaking a 1935 world altitude record of 72,395 feet. On October 18, 1957, he and Lewis, in a sealed gondola, set a two man crew world altitude record of 86,000 feet. On July 26-27, 1958, in a sealed gondola with Commander M. Lee Lewis, he set a duration record for stratospheric flight of 34 hours, 40 minutes. On August 10, 1959, Ross made another open basket flight with Mr. Robert Cooper to 38,000 feet. On November 28-29, 1959, Ross, with Mr. Charles Moore, succeeded in using a 16-inch telescope system for high altitude planetary (Venus) observations at 81,000 feet. On May 4, 1961, Project Strato-Lab High 5 was launched from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Antietam with Ross and co-pilot Victor Prather. They accomplished several medical tests and set a world altitude record for manned balloon flight. Lt. Commander Prather accidently drowned during the helicopter pickup. The last time Captain Malcolm Ross wore this white uniform was at Lt. Commander Victor Prather’s funeral and burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Captain Malcolm D. Ross died on October 8, 1985. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery near Commander Victor Prather. Captain Ross was the first active duty officer qualified and licensed as a free balloon pilot based solely on plastic balloon experience.