Most of us are familiar with Air Force One, the highly customized VC-25A jumbo jet that serves as the flying command center and transport for the commander in chief. The president, however, has another option when needing to get from A to B: Marine One.
Marine One is actually the call sign of any US Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president. The same applies to Air Force One. Unlike the jumbo, helicopters are frequently used to ferry the president on short journeys, where a fast, highly secure, and flexible mode of transportation that bypasses traffic and reaches locations inaccessible to fixed-wing aircraft like Air Force One is required.
But when did Marine One first take to the air, and what are some of the most memorable moments involving these unique rotorcraft? To find out, click on and continue reading.