On February 17, 1974, U.S. Army Private Robert K. Preston took off in a stolen Bell UH-1B Iroquois "Huey" helicopter from Tipton Field, Maryland, and landed it on the South Lawn of the White House in a major breach of security. Preston had enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot, but he did not graduate from the helicopter training course and lost his opportunity to attain the rank of warrant officer pilot. He was bound by his enlistment to serve four years in the Army, and he was sent to Fort Meade as a helicopter mechanic. Preston believed that this situation was unfair and later said that he stole the helicopter to show his skill as a pilot.

1974 White House helicopter incident

A United States Army Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter of the type used in the incident
Incident
Date	February 17, 1974
Summary	Stolen helicopter
Site	White House 38°53′48″N 77°02′11″W
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Bell UH-1B Iroquois
Operator	United States Army
Registration	62-1920
Flight origin	Fort Meade, Maryland
Crew	1
Injuries	1

Shortly after midnight, Preston, on leave, was returning to Tipton Field, south of Fort Meade. Thirty helicopters at the base were fueled and ready to fly; he took off in one without anti-collision lights on or making the standard radio calls. The Maryland State Police were alerted, and Preston flew southwest toward Washington, D.C., where he hovered close to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and over the South Lawn of the White House. He then flew back toward Fort Meade, with two Bell 206 JetRanger police helicopters and police cars in pursuit. After a chase over Maryland, he reversed course toward Washington again and entered the White House grounds. This time, the Secret Service opened fire. Preston was lightly wounded, landed the helicopter, and was arrested.

In the plea bargain at his court-martial, Preston pled guilty to "wrongful appropriation and breach of the peace" and was sentenced to one year in prison as well as a fine of US$2,400 (equivalent to $12,442 in 2019). Since he had already been in prison for six months at the time, he had to serve six additional months. After his release, Preston received a general discharge from the army, then lived a quiet life, married, and died of cancer in 2009.

Background

On February 17, 1974, U.S. Army Private Robert K. Preston took off in a stolen Bell UH-1B Iroquois "Huey" helicopter from Tipton Field, Maryland, and landed it on the South Lawn of the White House in a major breach of security. Preston had enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot, but he did not graduate from the helicopter training course and lost his opportunity to attain the rank of warrant officer pilot. He was bound by his enlistment to serve four years in the Army, and he was sent to Fort Meade as a helicopter mechanic. Preston believed that this situation was unfair and later said that he stole the helicopter to show his skill as a pilot. 1974 White House helicopter incident A Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter A United States Army Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter of the type used in the incident Incident Date February 17, 1974 Summary Stolen helicopter Site White House 38°53′48″N 77°02′11″W Aircraft Aircraft type Bell UH-1B Iroquois Operator United States Army Registration 62-1920 Flight origin Fort Meade, Maryland Crew 1 Injuries 1 Shortly after midnight, Preston, on leave, was returning to Tipton Field, south of Fort Meade. Thirty helicopters at the base were fueled and ready to fly; he took off in one without anti-collision lights on or making the standard radio calls. The Maryland State Police were alerted, and Preston flew southwest toward Washington, D.C., where he hovered close to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and over the South Lawn of the White House. He then flew back toward Fort Meade, with two Bell 206 JetRanger police helicopters and police cars in pursuit. After a chase over Maryland, he reversed course toward Washington again and entered the White House grounds. This time, the Secret Service opened fire. Preston was lightly wounded, landed the helicopter, and was arrested. In the plea bargain at his court-martial, Preston pled guilty to "wrongful appropriation and breach of the peace" and was sentenced to one year in prison as well as a fine of US$2,400 (equivalent to $12,442 in 2019). Since he had already been in prison for six months at the time, he had to serve six additional months. After his release, Preston received a general discharge from the army, then lived a quiet life, married, and died of cancer in 2009.und