CDR William V. Lassen, Sr, earned his wings in 1950 after joining the USN Flying Midshipmen Program in 1946. As a carrier qualified naval aviator he accumulated 5800 flight hours. He flew off six different aircraft carriers and piloted thirteen different naval aircraft ranging from the propeller-driven F4U Corsair to the jet-driven RA5C Vigilante.

In 1964 Eugene Ostroff, Curator of Photography at the Smithsonian Institution, proposed a continuous, coast-to-coast strip film of the United States. As the Navy Flight Test Officer at North American Aviation, Columbus, Ohio, LCDR Lassen flew the mission, dubbed Peacock One. Piloting a specially configured RA5C Vigilante, LCDR Lassen made the first colored continuous strip film of the United States from east to west coast. This film is presently in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution.

CDR Lassen retired after 30 years service in 1976.