[23][22] Such a team would have normally comprised a single OH-6 that would fly relatively slow and at a low altitude while attempting to spot the presence of enemies. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The Cobras high above had a few seconds of warningthey could spot the missiles exhaust plumebut were all the more tempting because at their higher altitudes they were more easily seen than the smaller Loaches. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era Steve1958OR 242 subscribers 14K views 9 years ago A friend came by today with his Vietnam war era Hughs OH-6 Loach helicopter. As of 2021, these records still stand. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Your email address will not be published. The Loach-derived MD-500 and other civilian variants still roll off the assembly lines at MD Helicopters, Inc., while Boeing produces an upgraded variant, the AH-6 Little Bird, for military forces (including an autonomous drone version). The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops in Vietnam. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. South Vietnam Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. The Mojave is a large heavy-lift helicopter that was deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965 to assist in recovery of downed US aircraft, but it proved ineffective. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 . Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. Furthermore, a number of civilian customers also flew Kawasaki-built OH-6s for a variety of missions, including emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, and agricultural work. In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". Adopted after. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. The Model 369, with its Allison T63-A-5A series turboshaft engine, took its first flight on February 27, 1963, under the military designation YOH-6A. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. Armament "Pink teams" of scout and attack helicopters, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the Vietnam War; In anti-submarine warfare an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as destroyers as killers. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. Thats why the majority of pilots who served in Vietnam shared the opinion that, if you were going to crash, it was best to do it in a Loach. If you would like In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. I was just out of flight school when I went to Vietnam. He flew Loaches for the next 11 months, and today is an accountant in Seattle. https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.com/Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact Preston Jones: pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488 During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Observation Helicopters 4. They chose the OH-6A scout helicopter to fill that role, and it became known as the Little Bird compared to the other aircraft in the task force, the MH-60 and the MH-47. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: Cobra Gunship, Huey and Loach OH-6 Members of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry dedicated an OH-6 Loach Scout helicopter flown by their unit during the Vietnam War Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Army troops called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of light observation helicopters. The ship was unusually light and had plenty of power, perfect for flying nap-of-the-earth missions, and its 26-foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. [4] The prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they competed against the other ten prototype aircraft produced by Bell and Fairchild-Hiller. Light Attack Helicopters 3. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. This helicopter was chosen by the US Army over the proposals of a number of other helicopter manufactures, designated the OH-6A Cayuse, and entered service in 1965. The Little Birds weaponry is a far cry from the M60 machine gun carried aboard a Loach in Vietnam: AH-6s can carry miniguns, rocket pods, grenade launchers, Hellfire missiles, and air-to-air Stinger missiles. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. Possible mast-mounted sight. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. The Loach also had its own gunner in the rear and could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles. Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL Lt. Col. Unit: 173 ABN When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. [27] During June 1972, they were deployed to a secret base in southern Laos (PS-44), where one of the helicopters was heavily damaged during a training mission late in the summer. These hunter-killer missions, among the most hazardous of the Vietnam War, tested the resolve of the OH-6 pilots and the aerial observers sitting beside them. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. It had to do with the timbre of your voicehow you talked to other guys on the radio, says Romero, who arrived in Vietnam in 1970, initially as a Huey co-pilot. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side This teamwork was actively encouraged by Army officials, and led to the development of so-called "hunter-killer" tactics that sought to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets. On the night of 5-6 December 1972, the remaining helicopter deployed a wiretap near Vinh, Vietnam; useful information provided from this wiretap was acted on by the United States on several occasions, such as during the Linebacker II campaign and Paris Peace Talks. Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the Loach helicopter, as it was better known, fast became the primary chopper flown in Vietnam. [26], During 1972, a pair of heavily modified OH-6As were utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America for a covert wire-tapping mission. The OH-6A Cayuse fulfilled this role and became known as the Little Bird. The pilots tasked with operating the choppers were selected from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. There was one day of initial training, says Bob Moses, who was first trained as a tank crewman and then as infantry before a sudden transition to helicopter door gunner. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Click on the hotlinks for more information. s/n 67-16304 In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Anthony is our resident military expert who uses his experience to write about all aspects of flying in the military, including what it takes to become a pilot and serve your country. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. The US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Cookie Policy Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Helicopter took 1 hits from: If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. (7.62MM) The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. In one particular clandestine incident in 1972, known as the Vinh wiretap, a pair of OH-6As were heavily modified and used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America was used to infiltrate Vietnamese high level communications, providing valuable intelligence. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. [22][23] Prior to the arrival of the AH-1, "hunter-killer" teams often relied on the firepower from armed models of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. About Us | The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. The Kaman SH-2 could extend and increase both shipboard sensor and weapon abilities against different types of enemy units, including submarines, ships, and patrol craft with anti-ship missiles. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. With US Army evaluations of each prototype ongoing, the underpowered Bell offering was formally dropped from contention and the US Army decision favored the Hughes design over the Fairchild-Hiller. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. The Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter as a primary attack helicopter in the Vietnam War for aerial assaults or as air cavalry. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. History | The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. Helicopter took 2 hits from: They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter In this theatre, it was commonly operated in teams with other rotorcraft, such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, using so-called "hunter-killer" tactics to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets; the OH-6 would act as bait to draw enemy fire and mark targets for other platforms such as the AH-1 to attack. The OH-6 was developed in response to the United States Army issuing Technical Specification 153 in 1960 to replace its Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. City of Walnut Creek Special Recreation Museum Tour October 26, 2019, United Airlines Family Day Fly-in October 13, 2019, Napa County Airport Day September 7, 2019, Virginia Rose II Cobra transferred to Vietnam Helicopters Museum August 14, 2019, Memorial Day 2019 Ceremonies at Oak Hill Memorial Park & Cemetery. The OH-6A Loach (for "LOH") would find targets by flying low, "trolling for fire", then marking the target with colored smoke to lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This was a Combat incident. [7] The Hiller design, designated OH-5A,[7] had featured a boosted control system, while the Hughes design did not, a difference that accounted for some of the price increase. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. I spent more time with them.. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? which many are taken will be available from our shop to While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. [16], Early on in the OH-6's career, the type demonstrated its performance in a particularly prominent manner via the setting of 23 individual world records for helicopters during 1966 in the categories of speed, endurance and time to climb. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. The "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. A little gory but thats how close we were. As the Loach flew among the trees, the rear-seat pilot in the Snake circling above kept a close eye on the little scout and the front-seat gunner jotted down whatever the Loach observers radioed. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. History. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams, combining the OH-6A Loach (white team) with a AH-1G Cobra atacke helicopter (red team). The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. Vietnams mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat. This. Terms of Use Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) It was pretty hairy, and we got the hell out of there. But Boucher got a rush from the missions, and stayed six months beyond what was required of a draftee. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or a 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. The helicopter Continued Flight. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot.

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