Spectacular Photos of Presidential Helicopters Over Glendale

Today President Barack Obama visited Dreamworks Animation in Glendale, marking his second visit to Glendale as President. His retinue of helicopters landed at Toll Middle School in Glendale before the motorcade departed for Dreamworks. I took these photos of the helicopters departing Toll's playground.

The President travels in one of two identical VH-3D Sea King helicopters - the helicopter with the President aboard is known as Marine One. The two Sea Kings were also accompanied by two enormous CH-53E Super Stallion support helicopters. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) is the squadron responsible for Presidential helicopter transport.

 

Earlier in the day, I was able to catch a glimpse in the distance of Marine One descending towards Toll.

This video from Father Vazken Movsesian of St. Peter's Armenian church shows the Presidential entourage's visit to Toll most comprehensively, as it was taken from inside the police perimeter.

Here's the best video I've found of all four helicopters lifting off from Toll.

Here's MY video of all four helicopters lifting off. Apologies for the shaky quality, I was shooting the video with my left hand and taking the stills you see above with my right!

Related:

• A History of Presidential Visits to Glendale

Like Tropico Station on Facebook! - I post new content on the Facebook page nearly every day

Follow @TropicoStation on Twitter

A History of Presidential Visits to Glendale*

President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at Dreamworks Animation in Glendale today. Inspired by a rare presidential visit to the Jewel City, here's a list of documented visits to Glendale made by Presidents of the United States. If I'm missing any, please let me know:

President Barack Obama, 2010 and 2013

In 2010, President Obama did a radio interview in the Unum Building in downtown Glendale. He is scheduled to speak at Dreamworks Animation today.

*11/27/13 Update: Here are my photos of Marine One and support helicopters over Glendale on 11/26/13. Here's a write-up of Obama's visit from Bret Marnell, an editor at Dreamworks.

President Bill Clinton, 1996

In 1996, President Clinton spoke at Glendale Community College and had lunch at the Rocky Cola Cafe in Montrose afterward. In 1992, while President-elect, Clinton stopped in Glendale to shop at the Glendale Galleria.

President Gerald Ford, 1976

Ford stopped by the Days of the Verdugos festival and spoke in front of Glendale City Hall.

President Harry Truman, 1948

Truman made a brief campaign speech in Glendale during his successful 1948 re-election campaign.

President Herbert Hoover, 1932

The earliest record I could find of a presidential visit to Glendale was made by Herbert Hoover, who visited the Jewel City in 1932. Looks like he's having a great time!

Visits by Presidents to Glendale that were not made during their term:

Richard Nixon, 1952, 1956, 1962

In 1956, then Vice President Richard Nixon made an Ike-Dick campaign stop in Glendale. In this photo he's speaking from the steps of Glendale City Hall. Nixon apparently also visited Glendale as a vice-presidential candidate in 1952, and campaigned in Montrose during his unsuccessful 1962 gubernatorial run.

Ronald Reagan, 1940 and 1966

In 1940, Ronald Reagan married actress Jane Wyman in Glendale at Forest Lawn's Wee Kirk of the Heather church. In 1966, Reagan visited Forest Lawn again, this time as governor of California.

If I'm missing any other documented visits, please let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Like Tropico Station on Facebook! - I post new content on the Facebook page nearly every day

Follow @TropicoStation on Twitter