1974 White House helicopter incident

1974 White House helicopter incident

The stolen helicopter, now on display
Incident
Date	February 17, 1974
Summary	Stolen helicopter
Site	White House, Washington, D.C., U.S. 38°53′48″N 77°02′11″W / 38.896665°N 77.036484°W / 38.896665; -77.036484
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Bell UH-1B Iroquois
Operator	United States Army
Registration	62-1920
Flight origin	Tipton Field, Maryland, U.S.
Crew	1
Injuries	1 (pilot)

On February 17, 1974, U.S. Army Private First Class Robert Kenneth Preston (1953–2009)^[1] 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 significant breach of security. Preston had enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot. However, he did not graduate from the helicopter training course and lost his opportunity to attain the rank of warrant officer pilot. His enlistment bound him to serve four years in the Army, and he was sent to Fort Meade as a helicopter mechanic. Preston believed this situation was unfair and later said he stole the helicopter to show his skill as a pilot.

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. 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. The Secret Service opened fire this time. Preston was lightly wounded, landed the helicopter, and was arrested and held in custody.

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 $2,400 (equivalent to $14,800 in 2023). After his release, Preston received a general discharge from the army, then lived a quiet life, married, before he died of cancer in 2009.