The gondola of the 3,700,000 cubic foot balloon Explorer II in which the stratosphere expedition of the National Geographic Society and the United States Army will be made in America has been fitted with a huge parachute which will service as a safety device in case of emergency - photo shows the gondola with the parachute attached - standing in front are Brigadier General Oscar Westover ( Assistant Chief of the United States Army Corps ) Captain Albert S Stevens ( Commander and scientific observer of the flight ) and Captain Orvil Anderson ( pilot ) - from the side of the gondola hang the battery boxes which after serving their purpose on the way down will be released and floated to earth each with its own parachute June 22nd 1935