The 1974 White House helicopter incident occurred when U.S. Army private Robert K. Preston stole a Bell UH-1B Iroquois helicopter (a "Huey") from Tipton Field, Maryland, and, in a major breach of security, landed it on the South Lawn (pictured) of the White House. Preston had enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot, but did not graduate from the helicopter training course. Shortly after midnight on February 17, 1974, he was returning from leave when he took off in a helicopter. Preston flew towards Washington, D.C., where he hovered close to the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument and over the South Lawn of the White House. He then flew back towards Tipton Field, pursued by two police Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters. He returned to Washington, and again hovered over the South Lawn. The Secret Service opened fire; lightly wounded, Preston landed and was arrested. At his court-martial, he was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $2400.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_White_House_helicopter_incident

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1902:

An eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, Martinique, causing around 30,000 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pel%C3%A9e

1945:

A parade in Sétif, French Algeria, celebrating the end of World War II in Europe became a riot and was followed by a massacre carried out by colonial authorities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9tif_and_Guelma_massacre

1970:

Construction workers attacked students and others who were protesting the Vietnam War in New York City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Hat_Riot

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

megapolitan: Of or pertaining to a megapolis (“a very large city or urban complex”). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/megapolitan

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

As is true with respect to other great evils, the measures by which war might be made altogether impossible for the future may well be worse than even war itself.   --Friedrich Hayek https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek