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. 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. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Book A Flight | 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. 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. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. This eventually gave way to the loach nickname, and was intended to provide the US military with a light-class, rotary-wing craft that could fulfill a number of purposes: search and rescue, close air support, MEDEVAC, observation, transport, reconnaissance and attack roles. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. 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. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN 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. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Your email address will not be published. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. If you would like Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. 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. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. Unknown as to mission impact. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Logan Nye Updated December 07, 2022 09:30:25 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. [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. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) 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. 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. It would often be crewed by a pilot and an observer; up to five passengers or up to 1,000lb of cargo could be carried internally. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. From the rear cockpit, the pilot fired rockets from launchers fixed to the stub wings on either side; the copilot in the front operated a chin turret that held a minigun and grenade launcher. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. 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. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. 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. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. Light Observation Helicopter - Wikipedia Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter - MILITARY TODAY Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam 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. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . Kiowas, largely relegated to low-threat cargo and liaison missions in Vietnam, were after the war tasked to spot targets from afar and guide Cobras (and later, Boeing AH-64 Apaches) to good firing spots. About Us | Loach and Cobra crews lived together, and schedulers generally paired the teams with the partners they requested, though given the high turnover rate, that wasnt always possible. 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. A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Armament [18] Subsequently, on 6 April 1966, Robert Ferry set the long distance world record for helicopters by flying from Culver City, California, with over a ton of fuel to Ormond Beach, Florida, covering a total of 1,923.08 nm (2,213.04mi, 3,561.55km) in 15 hours, and near the finish at up to 24,000 feet (7,300m) altitude. History | Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 Can include a combination of the following across two fuselage wingstubs (though some weapons operated from cabin doors): (Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above), Hardpoint Mountings: 2 (if wingstub equipped). 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. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. Within that same year, help was on the way. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. 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". MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. 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. 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. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . loach | My Vietnam Experience Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. The OH-6 was largely removed from active U.S. Army service in favor of the Kiowa, but modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. 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. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Contact | FAQ | While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. The four-passenger teardrop shaped "Flying egg" (six-passenger with rear seats folded-down) was a small, light, sturdy, maneuverable helicopter, with very low drag. 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). 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. 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. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. In support of the Helicopter Flight Mechanics syllabus, the USNTPS operates surplus Army OH-6B Helicopters which were refurbished by the Army National Guard, Gulfport, Mississippi in 1991. During 1964, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a memorandum directing that all U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, while the U.S. Army transitioned to solely operating rotor-wing aircraft. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Terms of Use Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. [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. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. Las mejores ofertas para Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp (ingls) Paperb estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. He recalls: 360 degrees around you was enemy territory, and the ability to work with American and [South Vietnamese] units on the ground really required aviation to be able to look eye to eye to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Loach-Cobra pairings were sent out more and more frequently, until their main role was to gather general intelligence rather than prepare landing zones. Adopted after. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft were returned to the U.S., where they were dismantled and converted back to a standard configuration; they continued to be operated as such for a time. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. 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. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. On 1 October 1986, to help meet the increasing demands for support, the 1-245th Aviation Battalion from the Oklahoma National Guard, which had 25 AH-6 and 23 UH-1 helicopters, was placed under the operational control of the 160th. The architects of the task force identified the need for a small helicopter to land in the most restrictive locations and that was also easily transported on Air Force transport aircraft. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. 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. Fewer than 2,000 of the type were produced though the original went on to spawn a plethora of viable performers including the Hughes 500 "Defender" and the special forces-minded MH-6 "Little Bird". 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. Your email address will not be published. ", FAI Record ID #11656 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance over a closed circuit without landing, FAI Record ID #11655 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance without landing, Obituary: Robert G. Ferry; Air Force veteran was record-setting test pilot, "In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close", "Jane's Aircraft Upgrades, MD Helicopters (Hughes) Model 500 (Military Versions)", "Dominican Republic Air Force Unit History", "Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force OH-6J", "Breda Nardi Hughes NH.500M in Armed Forces of Malta service", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hughes_OH-6_Cayuse&oldid=1133333304, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 07:46. Despite a strong outcry from crews in Vietnam, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa, powered by the same Allison T-63 engine as the OH-6, was being distributed to Army units. This was a Combat incident. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. 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. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. 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. As well, its tough frame made it safer than other helicopters during crashes, as its aluminum skin absorbed the energy and the structure protected the crew. The OH-6 Cayuse was developed from specifications issued by the U.S. Army in 1960 for a light observation helicopter (LOH), and the familiar Loach nickname was derived from the acronym. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War - VHPA [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. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. Lt. Col. Operation Honey Badger was canceled after the hostages were released on 20 January 1981, and for a short while, it looked as if the task force would be disbanded and the personnel returned to their former units. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. [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. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. 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. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200. 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. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. You can have all the guns, vests, and radios you want, but you need street smarts or youre going to be dead within an hour.. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Provision for packaged armament on port side, including an XM-27 7.62mm (0.300in) machine-gun with 2,000 - 4,000 rounds of ammunition; or an XM-75 grenade launcher, Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Task Force 160, List of military aircraft of the United States, Hearings on military posture and H.R. 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. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. This was a Combat incident. ). 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. It was the same for Jim. 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. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. 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. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. Shop | A.J. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. 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. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft 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. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. Advertising Notice Observation Helicopters Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. South Vietnam Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. 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. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. 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 Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. 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 US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school.
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