Kudos to the US Park Police Helicopter Crew

If you were watching yesterday, the US Park Police helicopter was there, airlifting trapped personnel and victims to safety from the roof of the Naval Sea Systems Command building in the Navy Yard complex.

The Park Police helicopters have been wherever needed again and again, brave, persistent when required, and daring and effective.

Like in 1982, when the Park Police helicopter pulled Air Florida Flight 90 victims from the frigid waters of the Potomac following an unscheduled stop on the 14th Street Bridge.

US Park Police helicopter pulling victims from the icy Potomac River, January 13, 1982, pictured from the
express lane (Rochambeau Bridge) span of the 14th Street Bridge. The northbound span in the background,
with a portion of the guardrail sheered by the plummeting plane, was renamed for Arland D Williams Jr. who unselfishly passed the life ring hanging from the helicopter rope to a fellow passenger before submerging and perishing in the river.

For decades now, the copter has been there like for every inauguration, demonstration and major event along the National Mall, to monitor, corral lawbreakers and control the crowds as needed.

Picture of pre-inaugural Clinton-Gore event, from US Park Police helicopter, January, 1993.

It has protected the White House.

A U.S. Park Police helicopter was on scene almost instantly after the Pentagon was struck on September 11, 2001, radioing information on the extent of the damage and the progress of the fire to the Arlington County Fire Department. 

And then landing on September 11th to whisk victims away from the scene. 

Years later, the U.S. Park Police helicopter was ten miles up the Potomac to rescue stranded motorists when River Road became a river.

And it's there to speedily transport accident victims along the George Washington and Baltimore Washington Parkways.

The helicopter hovers over the Anacostia to rescue bald eagles stuck in the muck.

And I shot these photos of the Park Police helicopter up immediately in the aftermath of the August 23, 2011 DC earthquake.  

Park Police inspecting
Washington Monument.

Park Police helicopter inspecting the Smithsonian
Castle building.

The U.S. Park Police helicopter does winter duty in the sky patrolling the snowed in Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

The U.S. Park Police are up in the New York City metropolitan area too, assisting on Staten Island in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

And providing access to the storm swept grounds of the Statue of Liberty.

And yes, the Park Police was at the Navy Yard in Southeast DC yesterday, providing reconnaissance, pulling victims from the roof and helping trapped personnel to escape.

Park Police helicopter flying above the USS Barry, docked at Washington Navy Yard, September 17, 2013.