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{{short description| French diver and cinematographer }}
{{Short description|French diver and cinematographer (1940–1979)}}
{{for|his son|Philippe Cousteau Jr.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Philippe Cousteau
|name = Philippe Cousteau
|image = Philippe_Cousteau_in_Isla_Isabella_April_1975.jpg
|image = Philippe_Cousteau_in_Isla_Isabella_April_1975.jpg
⚫
|caption = Cousteau after a dive off the island of Isabella, near [[Mazatlán]], Mexico, in 1975
|image_size =
⚫
|caption = Cousteau after a dive off the island of Isabella, near Mazatlan, Mexico, in 1975
|birth_name = Philippe-Pierre Cousteau
|birth_name = Philippe-Pierre Cousteau
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1940|12|30}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1940|12|30}}
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|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1979|06|28|1940|12|30}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1979|06|28|1940|12|30}}
|death_place = [[Tagus River]], [[Alverca]], Portugal
|death_place = [[Tagus River]], [[Alverca]], Portugal
⚫
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Jan Cousteau]] (''née'' Sullivan)|10 February 1967}}
|residence =
⚫
|children = [[Alexandra Cousteau]]<br />[[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]]
|citizenship =
|nationality = French
⚫
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Jan Cousteau]] (née Sullivan)|10 February 1967}}
⚫
|children = [[Alexandra Cousteau]]<br>[[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]]
|alma_mater =
|alma_mater =
|known_for =
|known_for =
|parents = [[Jacques Cousteau]]<br>[[Simone Melchior]]
|parents = [[Jacques Cousteau]]<br />[[Simone Melchior]]
|relatives = [[Jean-Michel Cousteau]] (brother)<br />[[Pierre-Antoine Cousteau]] (uncle)
|relatives =
|awards =
|awards =
|religion =
|signature =
|signature =
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
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'''Philippe Pierre Cousteau''' (30 December 1940 – 28 June 1979) was a French diver, sailor, pilot, photographer, author, director and cinematographer specializing in environmental issues, with a background in [[oceanography]]. He was the second son of [[Jacques Cousteau]] and [[Simone Melchior]].
'''Philippe Pierre Cousteau''' (30 December 1940 – 28 June 1979) was a French diver, sailor, pilot, photographer, author, director and cinematographer specializing in environmental issues, with a background in [[oceanography]]. He was the second son of [[Jacques Cousteau]] and [[Simone Melchior]].


Philippe Cousteau was proficient filming from the air, on land and underwater. He was the lead cinematographer for most of the Cousteau films during his lifetime;<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0184152/|title=Philippe Cousteau Sr.|website=IMDb|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> he was nominated for and won several awards.<ref name="imdb.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0184152/awards|title=Philippe Cousteau Sr.|website=IMDb|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
Cousteau was proficient filming from the air, on land and underwater. He was the lead cinematographer for most of the Cousteau films during his lifetime;<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0184152/|title=Philippe Cousteau Sr.|website=IMDb|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> he was nominated for and won several awards.<ref name="imdb.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0184152/awards|title=Philippe Cousteau Sr.|website=IMDb|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Born in [[Toulon]], Philippe Cousteau first dived with an [[aqua-lung]] in 1945 when he was 4 years old. His father brought home a miniature version of the [[aqua-lung]] he had co-invented a few years before. Though Philippe had not yet learned to swim, he followed his father into the water. Growing up, he spent each school vacation aboard his father’s ship, [[RV Calypso|RV ''Calypso'']].
Born in [[Toulon]], Philippe Cousteau first dived with an [[aqua-lung]] in 1945 when he was 4 years old. His father brought home a miniature version of the aqua-lung he had co-invented a few years before. Though Philippe had not yet learned to swim, he followed his father into the water. Growing up, he spent each school vacation aboard his father's ship, [[RV Calypso|RV ''Calypso'']].


As a teenager, he began to feel the drive to explore. While his father had pursued the horizon on the sea, Philippe Cousteau dreamed of pursuing horizons in the sky and began to study [[aerodynamics]] at the age of 16, flying first as a [[glider (aircraft)|glider]] [[Aviator|pilot]], and then earning his [[airplane pilot]] license at a young age.<ref name="google.com">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19790629&id=_4onAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TnwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5865,4907003|title=St. Petersburg Times – Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
As a teenager, he began to feel the drive to explore. While his father had pursued the horizon on the sea, Philippe Cousteau dreamed of pursuing horizons in the sky and began to study [[aerodynamics]] at the age of 16, flying first as a [[glider (aircraft)|glider]] pilot, and then earning his airplane pilot license at a young age.<ref name="google.com">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19790629&id=_4onAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TnwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5865,4907003|title=St. Petersburg Times – Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>


Cousteau spent two years in the [[French Navy]] during the [[Algerian war]] as a [[sonar]] operator and member of the landing party of the [[Le Normand ship]], later earning his degree in science, spent another year at [[MIT]], and then went to Paris to train in cinematography, graduating from I'École technique de photographie et de cinéma (now called [[École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière]]) in Paris.
Cousteau spent two years in the [[French Navy]] during the [[Algerian war]] as a [[sonar]] operator and member of the landing party of the [[Le Normand ship]], later earning his degree in science, spent another year at [[MIT]], and then went to Paris to train in cinematography, graduating from I'École technique de photographie et de cinéma (now called [[École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière]]) in Paris.


==Biography==
==Career==
{{Quote box
{{Quote box
| quote = "Our goal was to serve as eyes for those who could not travel. We would be like knights errant who would travel the world, bringing their King tales of the Middle East. Except in our case, we would not be reporting to just one person but to millions."
| quote = "Our goal was to serve as eyes for those who could not travel. We would be like knights errant who would travel the world, bringing their King tales of the Middle East. Except in our case, we would not be reporting to just one person but to millions."
Line 43: Line 39:
| width = 30%
| width = 30%
}}
}}
[[File:Philippe Cousteau filming during an expedition.jpg|thumb|Philippe Cousteau filming during an expedition]]
[[File:Philippe Cousteau filming during an expedition.jpg|thumb|Cousteau filming during an expedition]]
In 1965, Cousteau was an Oceanaut on the [[Conshelf III]], an undersea habitat for saturated diving down to 325 feet near Ile Levant in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to his duties as Oceanaut, Cousteau was an underwater photographer and did all of the underwater filming, which became a National Geographic documentary film that aired in 1966.
In 1965, Cousteau was an Oceanaut on the [[Conshelf III]], an undersea habitat for saturated diving down to 325 feet near Ile Levant in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to his duties as Oceanaut, Cousteau was an underwater photographer and did all of the underwater filming, which became a National Geographic documentary film that aired in 1966.


Cousteau appeared as himself on the March 28, 1966 episode of the CBS game show ''[[To Tell the Truth]].'' He received three of the four possible votes from the panel.<ref>{{cite web |title=To Tell the Truth |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqvBMJJix0 |website=[[CBS]] |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>
Cousteau appeared as himself on the 28 March 1966 episode of the CBS game show ''[[To Tell the Truth]].'' He received three of the four possible votes from the panel.<ref>{{cite web |title=To Tell the Truth |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqvBMJJix0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/-WqvBMJJix0| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|website=[[CBS]] | date=23 August 2017 |access-date=2 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


In February 1967, Cousteau accompanied his father on the [[RV Calypso|RV ''Calypso'']] for an expedition to film the [[shark]]s of the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Indian Ocean]]. As well as being the lead photographer for the expedition, Cousteau also chronicled his experiences in the 1970 publication ''The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea''.
In February 1967, Cousteau accompanied his father on the [[RV Calypso|RV ''Calypso'']] for an expedition to film the [[shark]]s of the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Indian Ocean]]. As well as being the lead photographer for the expedition, Cousteau also chronicled his experiences in the 1970 publication ''The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea''.
Line 52: Line 48:
In 1969, Cousteau lent his technical expertise to the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]'s [[SEALAB (United States Navy)|SEALAB]] program. In the aftermath of [[aquanaut]] [[Berry L. Cannon]]'s death while attempting to repair a leak in SEALAB III, Cousteau volunteered to dive down to SEALAB and help return it to the surface, although SEALAB was ultimately salvaged in a less hazardous way.<ref name="Craven">[[John Piña Craven|Craven, John Piña]] (2001). ''The Silent War: The Cold War Battle Beneath the Sea'', [[New York City|New York]]: [[Simon & Schuster]]. {{ISBN|0-684-87213-7}}.</ref>
In 1969, Cousteau lent his technical expertise to the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]'s [[SEALAB (United States Navy)|SEALAB]] program. In the aftermath of [[aquanaut]] [[Berry L. Cannon]]'s death while attempting to repair a leak in SEALAB III, Cousteau volunteered to dive down to SEALAB and help return it to the surface, although SEALAB was ultimately salvaged in a less hazardous way.<ref name="Craven">[[John Piña Craven|Craven, John Piña]] (2001). ''The Silent War: The Cold War Battle Beneath the Sea'', [[New York City|New York]]: [[Simon & Schuster]]. {{ISBN|0-684-87213-7}}.</ref>


Until his death in 1979, he co-produced numerous documentaries<ref name="imdb.com"/> with his father, including ''[[Voyage to the Edge of the World]]'' (1976, for the cinema theatres) and his own PBS series, ''Oasis in Space''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/cousteau-oasis-space|title=Cousteau Oasis in Space|website=Television Academy|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> (1977, for the television), concerning environmental issues.
Until his death in 1979, he co-produced numerous documentaries<ref name="imdb.com"/> with his father, including ''[[Voyage to the Edge of the World]]'' (1976) for the cinema and his own PBS television series, ''Oasis in Space''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/cousteau-oasis-space|title=Cousteau Oasis in Space|website=Television Academy|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> (1977), concerning environmental issues.


==Piloting==
==Piloting==
[[File:Philippe Cousteau piloting PBY Lake Victoria Uganda July 1978.jpg|thumb|Philippe Cousteau piloting PBY, Lake Victoria, Uganda, July 1978]]Philippe Cousteau was a highly experienced pilot. He earned his [[glider (aircraft)|glider]] pilot license at the age of 16 and went on to obtain pilot credentials to fly [[balloons]], [[hang gliders]], single- and multi-engine [[airplanes]] and [[seaplanes]], [[gyrocopters]] and [[helicopters]].<ref name="google.com"/>
[[File:Philippe Cousteau piloting PBY Lake Victoria Uganda July 1978.jpg|thumb|Cousteau piloting PBY, Lake Victoria, Uganda, July 1978]]Cousteau was a highly experienced pilot. He earned his [[glider (aircraft)|glider]] pilot license at the age of 16 and went on to obtain pilot credentials to fly [[balloons]], [[hang gliders]], single- and multi-engine airplanes and [[seaplanes]], [[gyrocopters]] and [[helicopters]].<ref name="google.com"/>


He acquired a [[PBY Catalina]] seaplane in 1974. The amphibious aircraft was a converted U.S. Navy Catalina flying boat. Christened the Flying Calypso, the aircraft was in many of the Cousteau films and the home base for Cousteau's team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cansonet.free.fr/Utilisateurs/Cousteau/body_cousteau.html|title=Catalina PBY – Cousteau |website=cansonet.free.fr |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
He acquired a [[PBY Catalina]] seaplane in 1974. The amphibious aircraft was a converted U.S. Navy Catalina flying boat. Christened the Flying Calypso, the aircraft was in many of the Cousteau films and the home base for Cousteau's team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cansonet.free.fr/Utilisateurs/Cousteau/body_cousteau.html|title=Catalina PBY – Cousteau |website=cansonet.free.fr |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Cousteau met [[Janice Sullivan]] in the crowded ballroom of St. Regis Hotel in [[New York City]], USA, in February 1966. She was a fashion model originally from [[Los Angeles]] and more recently from New York. On 10 February 1967, they were married in [[Paris, France]]. Sullivan joined Cousteau on most of his father's expeditions (20 of 26 filming expeditions that spanned 13 years). They had two children, [[Alexandra Cousteau]] and [[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/jan-and-alexandra-cousteau-celebrate-the-family-business-|title=Jan and Alexandra Cousteau celebrate the family business of conservation|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
Cousteau met [[Janice Sullivan]] in the crowded ballroom of St. Regis Hotel in New York City in February 1966. She was a fashion model originally from Los Angeles and more recently from New York. On 10 February 1967, they were married in Paris. Sullivan joined Cousteau on most of his father's expeditions (20 of 26 filming expeditions that spanned 13 years). They had two children, [[Alexandra Cousteau]] and [[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/jan-and-alexandra-cousteau-celebrate-the-family-business-|title=Jan and Alexandra Cousteau celebrate the family business of conservation|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death and legacy==
Cousteau died in 1979, aged 38, when his [[PBY Catalina]] flying boat crashed in the [[Tagus]] river near [[Lisbon]]. The investigation of the accident was not thorough, and competing theories exist to the present day. One theory is that the aircraft simply touched down on the river too fast, causing it to flip on the water <ref name="Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives 1979">{{cite web | title=Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Alverca: 1 killed | website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives | date=1979-06-28 | url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/index.php/crash/crash-consolidated-pby-6a-catalina-alverca-1-killed | access-date=2021-03-02}}</ref>; another is that the aircraft nosed over during a high-speed taxi run undertaken to check the hull for leakage and the left wing broke free, sending its engine toward the cockpit and killing Cousteau instantly. Still another theory is that the aircraft, an amphibian with fully retractable landing gear, landed on the river with the landing gear extended. All others on board survived.<ref name="ASN">{{cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina N101CS Alverca |author=Aviation Safety Network |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19790628-0 |access-date=18 July 2010}}</ref> His son [[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]] was born six months later.
Cousteau died in 1979, aged 38, when his [[PBY Catalina]] flying boat crashed in the [[Tagus]] river near [[Lisbon]]. The investigation of the accident was not thorough, and competing theories exist to the present day. One theory is that the aircraft simply touched down on the river too fast, causing it to flip on the water;<ref name="Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives 1979">{{cite web | title=Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Alverca: 1 killed | website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives | date=28 June 1979 | url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/index.php/crash/crash-consolidated-pby-6a-catalina-alverca-1-killed | access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> another is that the aircraft nosed over during a high-speed taxi run undertaken to check the hull for leakage and the left wing broke free, sending its engine toward the cockpit and killing Cousteau instantly. Still another theory is that the aircraft, an amphibian with fully retractable landing gear, landed on the river with the landing gear extended. All others on board survived.<ref name="ASN">{{cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina N101CS Alverca |author=Aviation Safety Network |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19790628-0 |access-date=18 July 2010}}</ref> His son Philippe Cousteau Jr. was born six months later.


⚫
[[File:Busto de Philippe Cousteau en Salinas, Castrillon.jpg|thumb|[[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] of Cousteau in Salinas, Spain, close to the [[Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum]]|right]]
⚫
==Awards==
⚫
The [[Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum]] in [[Asturias]], Spain, and The Lycée Philippe Cousteau in [[Saint-André-de-Cubzac]], France, honor Cousteau's work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr/lycee-philippe-cousteau/|title=Site internet du lycée Philippe Cousteau, Saint-André de Cubzac|website=webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
⚫
Philippe Cousteau received many awards and honors for his contribution to diving and underwater photography: He was nominated for four Emmy's,<ref name="imdb.com1"/> [[NOGI Award]] for Arts from the Underwater Society of America (now presented by The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences) (1977),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.underwaterartists.com/2015-10-28-19-20-32/dive-work/75-ocean-oscars|title=OG Explorers – Oscars of the Ocean|first=Super|last=User|website=www.underwaterartists.com|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> World Wildlife Award and many others.


⚫
His children [[Alexandra Cousteau]] and Philippe Cousteau Jr. continue the family work in [[oceanography]] as the co-founders of [[EarthEcho International]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}
==Legacy==
⚫
[[File:Busto de Philippe Cousteau en Salinas, Castrillon.jpg|thumb|[[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] of Philippe Cousteau in Salinas, Spain, close to the [[Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum]]|right]]
The [[Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum]] in [[Asturias]], Spain, honors the oceanographer.


⚫
==Awards==
⚫
The Lycée Philippe Cousteau in [[Saint-André-de-Cubzac]], France honors his work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr/lycee-philippe-cousteau/|title=Site internet du lycée Philippe Cousteau, Saint-André de Cubzac|website=webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
⚫
Cousteau received many awards and honors for his contribution to diving and underwater photography: He was nominated for four Emmy's,<ref name="imdb.com1"/> [[NOGI Award]] for Arts from the Underwater Society of America (now presented by The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences) (1977),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.underwaterartists.com/2015-10-28-19-20-32/dive-work/75-ocean-oscars|title=OG Explorers – Oscars of the Ocean|website=www.underwaterartists.com|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> World Wildlife Award and many others. His children's book ''Follow the Moon Home'' won the Green Book Award for picture books in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Green Earth Book Award {{!}} The Nature Generation|url=http://www.natgen.org/green-earth-book-awards|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.natgen.org|language=en}}</ref>


== References ==
⚫
His children [[Alexandra Cousteau]] and [[Philippe Cousteau Jr.]] continue the family work in [[oceanography]] as the co-founders of [[EarthEcho International]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cousteau, Philippe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cousteau, Philippe Pierre}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:Aquanauts]]
[[Category:Aquanauts]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Portugal]]
[[Category:Cousteau family|Philippe]]
[[Category:Cousteau family|Philippe]]
[[Category:French expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:French oceanographers]]
[[Category:French oceanographers]]
[[Category:French scientists]]
[[Category:French underwater divers]]
[[Category:French underwater divers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Toulon]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Toulon]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Portugal]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1979]]
[[Category:French expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière alumni]]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 18 July 2024

For his son, see Philippe Cousteau Jr.

Philippe Cousteau
Cousteau after a dive off the island of Isabella, near Mazatlán, Mexico, in 1975
Born
Philippe-Pierre Cousteau

(1940-12-30)30 December 1940
Toulon, France
Died28 June 1979(1979-06-28) (aged 38)
Tagus River, Alverca, Portugal
Spouse
Jan Cousteau (née Sullivan)
​
​
(m. 1967)​
ChildrenAlexandra Cousteau
Philippe Cousteau Jr.
Parent(s)Jacques Cousteau
Simone Melchior
RelativesJean-Michel Cousteau (brother)
Pierre-Antoine Cousteau (uncle)

Philippe Pierre Cousteau (30 December 1940 – 28 June 1979) was a French diver, sailor, pilot, photographer, author, director and cinematographer specializing in environmental issues, with a background in oceanography. He was the second son of Jacques Cousteau and Simone Melchior.

Cousteau was proficient filming from the air, on land and underwater. He was the lead cinematographer for most of the Cousteau films during his lifetime;[1] he was nominated for and won several awards.[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in Toulon, Philippe Cousteau first dived with an aqua-lung in 1945 when he was 4 years old. His father brought home a miniature version of the aqua-lung he had co-invented a few years before. Though Philippe had not yet learned to swim, he followed his father into the water. Growing up, he spent each school vacation aboard his father's ship, RV Calypso.

As a teenager, he began to feel the drive to explore. While his father had pursued the horizon on the sea, Philippe Cousteau dreamed of pursuing horizons in the sky and began to study aerodynamics at the age of 16, flying first as a glider pilot, and then earning his airplane pilot license at a young age.[3]

Cousteau spent two years in the French Navy during the Algerian war as a sonar operator and member of the landing party of the Le Normand ship, later earning his degree in science, spent another year at MIT, and then went to Paris to train in cinematography, graduating from I'École technique de photographie et de cinéma (now called École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière) in Paris.

Career

[edit]

"Our goal was to serve as eyes for those who could not travel. We would be like knights errant who would travel the world, bringing their King tales of the Middle East. Except in our case, we would not be reporting to just one person but to millions."

Philippe Cousteau[citation needed]

Cousteau filming during an expedition

In 1965, Cousteau was an Oceanaut on the Conshelf III, an undersea habitat for saturated diving down to 325 feet near Ile Levant in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to his duties as Oceanaut, Cousteau was an underwater photographer and did all of the underwater filming, which became a National Geographic documentary film that aired in 1966.

Cousteau appeared as himself on the 28 March 1966 episode of the CBS game show To Tell the Truth. He received three of the four possible votes from the panel.[4]

In February 1967, Cousteau accompanied his father on the RV Calypso for an expedition to film the sharks of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. As well as being the lead photographer for the expedition, Cousteau also chronicled his experiences in the 1970 publication The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea.

In 1969, Cousteau lent his technical expertise to the U.S. Navy's SEALAB program. In the aftermath of aquanaut Berry L. Cannon's death while attempting to repair a leak in SEALAB III, Cousteau volunteered to dive down to SEALAB and help return it to the surface, although SEALAB was ultimately salvaged in a less hazardous way.[5]

Until his death in 1979, he co-produced numerous documentaries[1] with his father, including Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976) for the cinema and his own PBS television series, Oasis in Space[6] (1977), concerning environmental issues.

Piloting

[edit]
Cousteau piloting PBY, Lake Victoria, Uganda, July 1978

Cousteau was a highly experienced pilot. He earned his glider pilot license at the age of 16 and went on to obtain pilot credentials to fly balloons, hang gliders, single- and multi-engine airplanes and seaplanes, gyrocopters and helicopters.[3]

He acquired a PBY Catalina seaplane in 1974. The amphibious aircraft was a converted U.S. Navy Catalina flying boat. Christened the Flying Calypso, the aircraft was in many of the Cousteau films and the home base for Cousteau's team.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Cousteau met Janice Sullivan in the crowded ballroom of St. Regis Hotel in New York City in February 1966. She was a fashion model originally from Los Angeles and more recently from New York. On 10 February 1967, they were married in Paris. Sullivan joined Cousteau on most of his father's expeditions (20 of 26 filming expeditions that spanned 13 years). They had two children, Alexandra Cousteau and Philippe Cousteau Jr.[8]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Cousteau died in 1979, aged 38, when his PBY Catalina flying boat crashed in the Tagus river near Lisbon. The investigation of the accident was not thorough, and competing theories exist to the present day. One theory is that the aircraft simply touched down on the river too fast, causing it to flip on the water;[9] another is that the aircraft nosed over during a high-speed taxi run undertaken to check the hull for leakage and the left wing broke free, sending its engine toward the cockpit and killing Cousteau instantly. Still another theory is that the aircraft, an amphibian with fully retractable landing gear, landed on the river with the landing gear extended. All others on board survived.[10] His son Philippe Cousteau Jr. was born six months later.

Bust of Cousteau in Salinas, Spain, close to the Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum

The Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum in Asturias, Spain, and The Lycée Philippe Cousteau in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, honor Cousteau's work.[11]

His children Alexandra Cousteau and Philippe Cousteau Jr. continue the family work in oceanography as the co-founders of EarthEcho International.[citation needed]

Awards

[edit]

Cousteau received many awards and honors for his contribution to diving and underwater photography: He was nominated for four Emmy's,[2] NOGI Award for Arts from the Underwater Society of America (now presented by The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences) (1977),[12] World Wildlife Award and many others. His children's book Follow the Moon Home won the Green Book Award for picture books in 2017.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Philippe Cousteau Sr". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Philippe Cousteau Sr". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "St. Petersburg Times – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ "To Tell the Truth". CBS. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  5. ^ Craven, John Piña (2001). The Silent War: The Cold War Battle Beneath the Sea, New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-87213-7.
  6. ^ "Cousteau Oasis in Space". Television Academy. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Catalina PBY – Cousteau". cansonet.free.fr. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Jan and Alexandra Cousteau celebrate the family business of conservation". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Alverca: 1 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. 28 June 1979. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  10. ^ Aviation Safety Network. "ASN Aircraft accident Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina N101CS Alverca". Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Site internet du lycée Philippe Cousteau, Saint-André de Cubzac". webetab.ac-bordeaux.fr. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. ^ "OG Explorers – Oscars of the Ocean". www.underwaterartists.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Green Earth Book Award | The Nature Generation". www.natgen.org. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
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