loach helicopter vietnam

contact us here and we will remove the During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. 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. Furthermore, the helicopter was also developed into a civilian helicopter, the Model 500, which was still in production into the twenty-first century under MD Helicopters as the MD 500. 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. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. Some crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the OH-6, however, the transition proceeded while scouting doctrine was changed to emphasis operations from greater distances. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. Helicopter took 2 hits from: The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . [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. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. 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. Privacy Statement The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine 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 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Radiomen in the Vietnam War faced a 5-second life expectancy 5 cringeworthy military slang terms (that we should actually retire) From nursing to newspapers, these were the women of Vietnam 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. I followed footsteps. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. 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. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. Date: 02/08/1969 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. [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. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 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. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Unknown as to mission impact. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. USNTPS plans to retain the aircraft indefinitely and continue to improve the safety, reliability, and usefulness of the aircraft in the test pilot training role. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. purchase. Within that same year, help was on the way. The helicopter was inducted as the OH-6 "Cayuse" and would eventually take on the in-the-field nickname of "Loach" in reference to its "LOH" origins. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 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. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 Casualties = 01 WIA . By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. [28][29], The pilots selected to fly the OH-6A helicopters came from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion and were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the rotorcraft. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. [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. Adopted after. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. 2 .50 cal MG pods The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. An Army article written after Johns seventh crash credited it with surviving 61 hits from enemy fire and seven crashes without losing a single crew member. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. Kane and Casher were pulled aboard and returned to Khe Sanh, but the Huey barely made it back; slicing trees had left its blades shredded, and the tail section had almost separated. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. History | One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. Unit: 173 ABN The observers and gunners had even less experience. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. They were usually joined by Cobra gunships either in hunter-killer teams where the Loach hunted and the Cobra killed or in air mobile cavalry units where both airframes supported cavalry and infantrymen on the ground. Armament Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. That was about it.. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers 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). This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. This helicopter was UNK It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. It had a distinct teardrop-shaped fuselage, which made it instantly recognizable, and a cockpit for two crew members, along with two removable seats in the passenger cabin. The Army initially ordered 1,438 Hughes Model 369s, designated by the Army as the OH-6A Cayuse helicopters. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. . Possible mast-mounted sight. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher Cobras generally attacked with rockets, preferred for long-range accuracy, switching to the less-accurate chin-mounted machine gun and grenade launcher only if they were far enough away from friendly troops or if the rocketsAH-1s could carry as many as 76 rocketsran out. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. [2] Twelve companies opted to participate in the competition, Hughes Tool Company's Aircraft Division being one of them, submitted the Model 369 as its response. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. By Richard Toops. Disclaimer Photographs The Hughes OH-6 "Cayuse" (popularly recognized as the "Loach") was a revolutionary light helicopter mount primarily in service with the United States Army and saw combat service during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. 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. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Observation Helicopters 4. The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. After evaluation, three designs were selected and 5 of each: the Bell OH-4A; the Hiller OH-5 and the Hughes OH-6, were ordered for trials by the U.S.Army Aviation Board. In August 1967, the AH-1G Cobra arrived in Vietnam. I spent more time with them.. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. The killer role persists. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. This. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. Samantha Franco is a Freelance Content Writer who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Guelph, and her Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Western Ontario. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. s/n 66-07841. Each time we went out, we got shot at. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. It had no hydraulic system and its electrical setup was used primarily to start up the enginesimple even by 1960s standards, which for practical purposes meant it was easier to maintain and harder to shoot down than other helicopters. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. We operated from fixed bases that were islands, if you will, of allied control, says Hugh Mills, who flew both Loaches and Cobras in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, and went on to fly helicopters for the Kansas City Police Department. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Scout pilots were a different breed of cat, says Cobra pilot Jim Kane, who likens his former colleagues to the airborne equivalent of the Tunnel Rats, soldiers who crawled head-first into Viet Cong-built tunnels without any idea what awaited them there. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. His three tours to Vietnam included death-defying scouting missions piloting his Hughes OH-6 light observation helicopter (or Loach) as well as gunship runs inside his AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.. Cozzalio was also involved in nine aircraft mishaps; he was shot down six times and suffered three hard landings. 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. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Cookie Policy Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). The flames covered my boots and lower legs. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. I have come home with blood on my windshield. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . 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. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side Krausz was ordered to Vietnam in April 1971, and today teaches Army students how to fly the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota, a twin-engine trainer. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. 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. Its cockpit teems with electronics and sensors, and its stub wings are heavy with heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided Hellfires, rockets (like those used in Vietnam), and even fuel-filled drop tanks. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. | The following text is exclusive to this site. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. 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. A.J. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Even trampled grass was a clue; it meant that enemy troops had passed through the area within eight hours, the time it took for grass to dry upright. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Russian soldiers calls back home reveal horrifying experiences in Ukraine, broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen, could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times, modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008, 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms. I spent more time with them., Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. [22], Following the April 1980 failure of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of American hostages in Tehran), it was determined that the military lacked aircraft and crews who were trained and prepared to perform special operations missions. During 1960, the United States Army issued Technical Specification 153 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) capable of fulfilling various roles on the battlefield, including personnel transport, escort, casualty evacuation, observation, and attack missions. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. 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. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. 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 The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. The helicopter Continued Flight. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. The Model 206 was mostly employed as a general utility helicopter, but at times it was also used for transporting troops and high command, in addition to serving observational and reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam war. This was a Combat incident. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter.

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