Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/1974 White House helicopter incident

Article promoted by Gog the Mild (talk) via MilHistBot (talk) 22:20, 14 February 2020 (UTC) &laquo; Return to A-Class review list

1974 White House helicopter incident
Instructions for nominators and reviewers
 * Nominator(s): 

A strange incident in which a helicopter mechanic, Robert Preston, stole a helicopter and flew around Washington D.C., then back to Maryland, being pursued by police in helis and cars. He turned back towards D.C. and actually landed on the south lawn of the White House while under fire from the secret service. I got interested in this when reading about it in a monthly Air & Space magazine, then forgot about it for a while, until I saw it again on WP's Main Page in the OTD section. After a complete rewrite from Start-class and a good article review, I think it is ready for A-class, and possibly FA. All comments are welcome. L293D (☎ • ✎) 02:34, 9 December 2019 (UTC)

Source review—pass

 * Daily Collegian — this is a student newspaper, what makes it an RS?
 * Other sources look good. Formatting OK. Source checks not done due to nominator's history. buidhe 01:31, 29 December 2019 (UTC)
 * I've removed the Daily Collegian and cited the text to the Air & Space magazine. Thanks. L293D (☎ • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 02:43, 29 December 2019 (UTC)


 * I'm satisfied that the article is sufficiently complete to merit A-class, but the following sources (which I have access to and can send you if you like) have additional information:
 * Great finds, I was able to use them to add some extra details as well as given another reference to a lot of existing content. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 15:40, 31 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Great finds, I was able to use them to add some extra details as well as given another reference to a lot of existing content. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 15:40, 31 December 2019 (UTC)
 * Great finds, I was able to use them to add some extra details as well as given another reference to a lot of existing content. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 15:40, 31 December 2019 (UTC)


 * This review also counts as a pass at FAC source review. <b style="color: White">b</b><b style="color: White">uidh</b><b style="color: White">e</b> 05:55, 9 January 2020 (UTC)

Comments Support by CPA-5

 * were alerted, and Preston flew southwest towards Washington, D.C Unlink D.C.
 * I disagree, its linked only twice: in the lead and then lower in the article. Can you clarify why you think it should be unlinked?
 * I believe D.C. is a common term in the world and by MOS:OVERLINK. Cheers. CPA-5 (talk) 11:06, 23 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Right, but we have to keep in mind that readers in India or Australia might not know what D.C. is like most of us do. I've kept the first link in the lead and removed the second.
 * Hmm, I also got a dicustion with another American about this dispute so let's say it's fine I guess. Cheers. CPA-5 (talk) 20:30, 5 February 2020 (UTC)

That's anything from me. Interesting story I'd say. Cheers. CPA-5 (talk) 10:40, 10 January 2020 (UTC)
 * one year in prison, and was fined US$2,400 (equivalent to $12,442 in 2019) Link US$
 * Done.
 * become a helicopter pilot, flying a Hughes TH-55 Osage at Fort Wolters, Texas Link Texas.
 * Done.
 * He then decided to visit Washington, D.C., 20 miles (32 km) southwest Same as above.
 * Same as above
 * with a head-on pass just a few inches above What's a few? An inch is 2.54 cm which means a few inches would be 5–7.6 cm?
 * Source says "just inches over its roof". It's between 1 and 11 inches. I doubt anyone made a more exact measurement.
 * changing speeds between 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph) and 120 knots (220 km/h; 140 mph) Link the first knots.
 * Done.
 * a misdemeanor with a fine of $100 (equivalent to $518.42 in 2019) Link dollars again.
 * Done.
 * Preston's helicopter was first discovered by District of Columbia police --> "Preston's helicopter was first discovered by the District of Columbia police"
 * Done
 * Thank you a lot for this review. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 16:12, 10 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Sorry for the delay. Cheers. CPA-5 (talk) 11:06, 23 January 2020 (UTC)

Comments Support from Harrias
Nothing major here, a nice tight article. Harrias talk 12:56, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
 * If you're linking Washington, D. C., then link Maryland in the lead too.
 * Add links for Private first class and Warrant officer in the lead.
 * "..pursued by two Bell 206 JetRangers and police cars." Would be worth stating that they were police helicopters too.
 * Write "Reserve Officers' Training Corps" out in full.
 * "He washed out of.." This isn't encyclopaedic language.
 * "On February 17, 1974, shortly after midnight, Robert K. Preston.." No need to write his name out again, just use "Preston".
 * "He returned to Tipton Field south of Fort Meade, where thirty Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopters were fueled and ready." The article is unclear about the airfield and the helicopters. I assume they were owned by the Army, but this isn't made clear. Mentioning that the airfield was "south of Fort Meade" leaves it open that it could be a private airfield. Can you clarify this in the article?
 * "..then flew over the capitol.." Shouldn't it be "the Capitol", capitalised?
 * "..an old Bell 47 of the Maryland Police followed.." Clarify in the article that this is a helicopter.
 * "A Bell 206 JetRanger, operated by the LAPD" Make it clear in the image caption that this is of the same type used by the police in this incident. Otherwise, on a casual read, a reader might wonder why an LAPD helicopter was being used in Washington.
 * Be consistent about whether to use "Huey" or just Huey.
 * Thanks a lot for this great review, much appreciated. I've made every change you proposed. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 03:19, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Nice work, well done. Harrias  talk 09:58, 5 February 2020 (UTC)

Comments Support by PM
Interesting incident. I have a few comments:
 * Lead
 * first sentence, "United States Army Private..." and link US Army
 * comma after Maryland
 * link South Lawn (White House)
 * link White House at first mention and rm link from the second mention
 * Warrant officer→warrant officer and suggest adding "pilot"
 * "and he later said that"
 * "Shortly after midnight, Preston was returning to Tipton Airport" returning from where and by what means of transport?
 * It is stated in the body that he used a car.
 * That is true, but this currently begs the question of whether he was on duty, suggest "Preston was returning to Tipton Field from leave" and link Leave (military). Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 06:02, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Well, the sources don't specify, but I think it's safe to assume he was on leave.
 * the first sentence says he stole the helo from Fort Meade, but then it says he stole it from Tipton Airport south of Fort Meade? Was Tipton part of Fort Meade or outside of it?
 * Air&Space says "At Fort Meade’s Tipton Field, thirty Hueys". I think they're separate.
 * update the USD amount to 2020
 * I can't change that, it's in a template.
 * mention that he was court-martialled rather than tried in civilian court
 * mention that he was discharged from the Army after his sentence was completed
 * It's mentioned in the body.
 * And the lead should provide the salient details. As currently written it begs the question of what happened to the remainder of his service obligation. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 06:08, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Sure, done.
 * I'm not seeing this...? Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 00:00, 14 February 2020 (UTC)

That's me done. Nice job so far. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 03:05, 10 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Body
 * " Preston He enrolled"
 * link U.S. Army
 * warrant officer pilot
 * "This was a result of the ongoing withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam" doesn't follow. If he failed flight training, he wasn't going to become a pilot and the Vietnam drawdown had no impact on his not becoming a pilot
 * From what I understand of the Air & Space article, the US Army was oversupplied with qualified helicopter pilots, and he might have passed if they needed more pilots.
 * Then I suggest "The ongoing withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam and consequent surplus of qualified helicopter pilots may have also been a factor in Preston not being accepted as a pilot".
 * Done
 * I'm also not seeing this...? Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 00:00, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * suggest "four-year contract with the U.S. Army"→"four-year obligation to serve in the U.S. Army"
 * clarify if Tipton Field is part of Fort Meade (see earlier comment)
 * Seems pretty clear as is.
 * where were the dance hall and restaurant located?
 * Source doesn't say.
 * was he stationed at Tipton Field?
 * Source says he was reassigned to Fort Meade
 * had be flown the type before?
 * NYT or A&S don't say.
 * "He parked his car in at the unguarded airfield"
 * link Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
 * "but the boundary this was not enforced"
 * "While Preston was hovering above and briefly touched down"
 * link United States Secret Service
 * whose JetRangers were they? DC or Maryland?
 * Maryland
 * suggest changing the caption to "An LAPD Bell 206 JetRanger similar to the ones used in the chase"
 * "He caused one police car" or was it a civilian one?
 * suggest "barely clearing the steel fence..."
 * Nixon is duplinked
 * "The helicopter became a major tourist sight the next that day" as it is still the 17th
 * is the helo still on display at the NAS?
 * Don't know
 * update fine amounts to 2020
 * It's in a template, can't change
 * link court-martial
 * suggest "charged with several counts of attempted murder and several minor offences"
 * suggest "With time already served, this resulted in a further six months in prison"
 * President Nixon congratulated Secret Service officer Kulbaski"
 * was anything done about leaving helos fuelled and ready to fly but unguarded?
 * Sources don't say.
 * Suggest introducing the aircraft as "UH-1 Bell Iroquois (commonly known as a "Huey")", and use "Huey" thereafter as it is a nickname.
 * Wow, this review was so long I had to postpone it for several days! Thanks a lot for the comments. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 00:57, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * suggest changing Tipton field to Tipton Field throughout, as it is apparently a proper name. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 06:06, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Done. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 14:38, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm not seeing the highlighted edits? Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 00:00, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * This is kinda embarrassing; I did make the changes in another browser window and then forgot to publish them. Sorry. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 00:19, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * No worries, it happens. Supporting. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 00:41, 14 February 2020 (UTC)

G'day could you please have a look at the image licensing on this one? Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 00:41, 14 February 2020 (UTC)

Comments Support by Zawed
I reviewed this for GA and reviewing changes since then and am generally happy that this would be suitable for promotion once the the outstanding comments above have been dealt with. I do have a couple of comments to add: That's it for me. Zawed (talk) 06:58, 12 February 2020 (UTC)
 * I know there has already been a discussion above about this, but I feel Washington DC should be linked on its first mention in the body. It seems odd to me for it to be linked in the lead but not the body. I appreciate this may be a contrary opinion to those already expressed so my support won't hinge on this
 * Done.
 * link Pennsylvania Avenue
 * Done.
 * Typo in the caption of th eimage of Bellranger (used it the chase).
 * Done.
 * Thank you for this review! <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 01:08, 13 February 2020 (UTC)
 * No worries, happy to support. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 09:22, 14 February 2020 (UTC)

Image review

 * Suggest scaling up the map
 * Changed to 300px


 * This should be done using upright instead. Nikkimaria (talk) 11:51, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Okay, changed to upright=1.3
 * File:Preston-chart.png: what's the original source of this image? Nikkimaria (talk) 01:24, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * The original source is https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/prestons-wild-white-house-ride-180962400/.


 * Suggest adding that and specifying authorship on the image description page. Nikkimaria (talk) 11:51, 14 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Done. I did actually put the FAA as author, but the template didn't display it for some reason. I had to add a colon to make the interwiki link appear. <b style="color:#060">L293D</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b> • <b style="color:#000">✎</b>) 13:57, 14 February 2020 (UTC)