While A Marine Corps Pilot, He 'Borrowed' A Helicopter To Assist In A Domestic Sniper Situation

Sometimes, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. That was the attitude of Lt. General Charles "Chuck" Pitman, who in 1973, "borrowed" a Marine Corps helicopter to deal with a sniper situation in New Orleans, LA.

Lt. General Pitman passed away last Thursday at the age of 84.

The incident that brought Pitman into the spotlight occurred on January 7, 1973 when he was the commander of the Marine Air Reserve Training unit in Louisiana. A gunman had taken a position on top of a hotel in New Orleans, and was shooting and killing police officers.

Pitman, then a Lt. Colonel, and another pilot took off in a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter and headed to the scene. The publication We are the Mighty gives a detailed account of the day, but the short version is that Pitman and his copilot flew police officers over the hotel where they were able to neutralize the threat. When they found the gunman's body, it had been hit by more than 200 rounds.

While Pitman was hailed as a hero my most, the Marine Corps opened court-martial proceedings. The charges were dropped when House Armed Services Committee Chairman Edward Hebert (D-LA) intervened.

Pitman went on to have a distinguished career with the Marine Corps, retiring in 1990 as a Lt. General.

(Marine Corps image)

FMI: Source report