Virgil Olson's 91st Birthday Sunday February 28, 2010
Back Home
FIRST PRESIDENTIAL
HELICOPTER PILOT CELEBRATES 91st BIRTHDAY
Colonel
(ret) Virgil Olson, celebrated his 91st
birthday Sunday among family and friends at The Fairfax. On September
7, 1957, Col Olson became
the first
Presidential Helicopter pilot, when he flew President Dwight Eisenhower
in a
UH-34 Seahorse helicopter from the President's summer home in Newport,
RI, to
Quonset Point, RI, when urgent business required the President to
return to The
White House. President Eisenhower decided he liked how quickly a
helicopter
could transport him and soon Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) was
designated the Presidential Helicopter Squadron. Joining Colonel Olson
were the current
Presidential Pilot
and Commanding Officer of HMX-1, Col Jerry Glavy, former Commanding
Officers
and Presidential Pilots, Col (ret) Ron Berube (1997-1999, President
Clinton)
and Col (ret) Steve Taylor (2001-2003, President Bush). In addition,
the
spouses of the former Commanding Officers, Sally Berube and Suzette
Taylor were
present, along with Col Olson's long time friend, Peg Hill, his sons,
Doug, Roger and his daughter in-law Gail, his
daughter, Sydney and her friend Sam Richardson.
