Captain Hawthorne C. Gray attempted to set an official record .
Captain Hawthorne C. Gray had reached a record altitude of 42,470 feet ( 12,945 meters ) in a balloon on May 4 .
Captain Hawthorne C. Gray , who had reached a record altitude of 42,470 feet ( 12,945 meters ) in a balloon on May 4 , attempted to set an official record .