1.
SV: crowds gathered around spot where balloonists landed.
0.08

2.
GV: helicopter carrying balloonists arriving as crowds wave. (2 shots)
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3.
Crowd around helicopter
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4.
SV: balloonists escorted through crowd by police and signing autographs. (5 shots)
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Initials RH/2245



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Near Evreux in France, the three balloonists who successfully flew the Atlantic have made a brief return visit to the spot where they landed after their historic crossing. The three men from Albuquerque in the United States, Ben Abruzzo, Max Anderson, and Larry Newman earlier visited the United Kingdom to meet the two Englishmen who recently failed in a similar attempt. The three Americans received a rousing welcome when they returned to their wheat-field.

SYNOPSIS: The wheat-field where the balloonists landed on 17 August was again trampled underfoot when the successful trio returned to historic spot. They arrived in comfort, to be welcomed by the crowd who were no less excited.

The nearby town of Evreux has adopted the three balloonists. A street will be named after them, and there will also be a postage stamp to commemorate the event. Some of these fans also have pieces of fabric they tore from the balloon to help them remember. After the adulation and the autographs, the balloonists plan to return home the easy way aborad Concorde (25 August) then attempt to fly around the world in 30 days, again by balloon.