page_title: Marine One
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Marine One / History
context_page_description: Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One "Nighthawks", consisting of either the large Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King or the newer, smaller VH-60N "White Hawk". Both helicopters are called "White Tops" because of their livery. Any Marine Corps aircraft carrying the vice president has the call sign Marine Two.
context_section_description: The first use of helicopters for transporting the president was in 1957, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled on a Bell UH-13J Sioux. The president needed a quick way to reach his summer home in Pennsylvania and using Air Force One would have been impractical over such a short distance. There was also no airfield near his home with a paved runway to support fixed wing aircraft. Eisenhower thereby instructed his staff to look into alternative modes of transportation and a Sikorsky UH-34 Seahorse helicopter was commissioned. The early aircraft lacked the "creature comforts" found on its modern successors, such as air conditioning and toilets for in-flight use.
  In 1958, the H-13 was replaced by the Sikorsky H-34, and in 1961 by the VH-3A. Not long after the mode of presidential transport was introduced, presidential aides asked the Marine Corps to look into the White House South Lawn as a helicopter landing zone. Ample room was present, and the protocol was established.  Until 1976, the Marine Corps shared the responsibility of helicopter transportation for the president with the United States Army. Army helicopters used the call sign Army One while the president was on board.
  The VH-3D entered service in 1978.  The VH-60N entered service in 1987 and has served alongside the VH-3D. Improvements were made to both types of helicopters since their introduction to both take advantage of technological developments as well as to meet new mission requirements. However, by about 2001, it was clear that so much extra weight had been added to the helicopters that mission capability was being reduced and few new improvements could be made.
  By 2009, there were 11 VH-3Ds and eight VH-60Ns in service as presidential/VIP helicopters. On 16 July 2009, Marine One flew with an all-female crew for the first time. This was also the final flight of Major Jennifer Grieves, who was the first woman pilot to fly the president.
  Marine One has not been the subject of any accident or attack through 2009. However, in 2006, President George W. Bush boarded Marine One with his departing press secretary, but the helicopter "would not work". The president had to exit the helicopter and depart the White House in an automobile.
caption: President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan board Marine One, 1987