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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:24:35 PM EDT
On February 17, 1974, Robert Preston performed one of the most bizarre stunts in United States military history. Preston, who was then a private in the Army, stole a helicopter from Fort Meade and flew it to Washington, D.C., where he led Maryland State Police helicopters on a chase that ended on the south lawn of the White House.
 The White House Helicopter Incident - www.NBCUniversalArchives.com  /https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/68/16/68169118-31d8-49ce-92e8-577045a2f8a5/04g_am2017_gettyimages-515112550_left.jpeg)
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:25:10 PM EDT
[#1]
Are those shot marks all over it?
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:26:37 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Are those shot marks all over it? buckshot |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:40:24 PM EDT
[#3]
I find it insane that they didn't have access to heavier weapons.
Guess it was a different world back then. |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:44:15 PM EDT
[#4]
Was it a Cessna that landed on Red Square way back when? I'm too old to remember the details.
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:47:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Was it a Cessna that landed on Red Square way back when? I'm too old to remember the details. Mathias Rust. 1987? |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:54:22 PM EDT
[#6]
Funny when that happened, I was still in the Army assigned as a pilot in a helicopter unit. I don't recall anything extraordinary happening to our security down on the flight line where the aircraft were parked. But then, we were out in the middle of Kansas and no one cared.
I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. ETA: Unbelievable he was only sentenced to one year in prison and fined $2,400 (equivalent to $14,241 in 2022). The duration of his court-martial was given to him as time served; this meant he had to serve a further six months in prison. He instead served two months at Fort Riley, Kansas, before being granted a general discharge from the army for unsuitability. I can't believe he ended up at Riley with us! |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:56:26 PM EDT
[#7]
I pity the fool that got caught doing that!
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:57:19 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Funny when that happened, I was still in the Army assigned as a pilot in a helicopter unit. I don't recall anything extraordinary happening to our security down on the flight line where the aircraft were parked. But then, we were out in the middle of Kansas and no one cared. I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. 1 year in jail, 6 months in military jail I believe , then discharged as “unsuitable “ for military service, the helicopter he used is on display somewhere |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:57:41 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Funny when that happened, I was still in the Army assigned as a pilot in a helicopter unit. I don't recall anything extraordinary happening to our security down on the flight line where the aircraft were parked. But then, we were out in the middle of Kansas and no one cared. I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. Got off kinda light. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_White_House_helicopter_incident |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 8:59:56 PM EDT
[#10]
This is one of those stories I knew but had forgotten about. Thanks for the memories OP.
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Posted: 7/28/2023 9:00:57 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. Quote HistoryQuoted: I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_White_House_helicopter_incident Preston pleaded guilty to "wrongful appropriation and breach of the peace" in the plea bargain at his court-martial. He was sentenced to one year in prison, six months of which was time served, and a fine of US$2,400 (equivalent to $14,241 in 2022). After his release, Preston received a general discharge from the army, then lived a quiet life, married, and died of cancer in 2009. |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 9:06:54 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_White_House_helicopter_incident Preston pleaded guilty to "wrongful appropriation and breach of the peace" in the plea bargain at his court-martial. He was sentenced to one year in prison, six months of which was time served, and a fine of US$2,400 (equivalent to $14,241 in 2022). After his release, Preston received a general discharge from the army, then lived a quiet life, married, and died of cancer in 2009. That is so unbelievable. Try that these days and you'll disappear from the scene forever. |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 9:11:50 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Funny when that happened, I was still in the Army assigned as a pilot in a helicopter unit. I don't recall anything extraordinary happening to our security down on the flight line where the aircraft were parked. But then, we were out in the middle of Kansas and no one cared. I wonder how many years that dude spent at Leavenworth? Lucky for him they didn't waste him. Got off kinda light. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_White_House_helicopter_incident   Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 7/28/2023 9:14:50 PM EDT
[#14]
Bet that didn’t help him come promotion time.
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