The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. We were combat trackers, says Mills. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms The Raven was used as a scouting helicopter during the early phases of the war, before it was eventually replaced by the Cayuse in early 1986. OH-6 Loach - Light Observation Helicopter - Brickmania Toys 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. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. Stanley Hiller complained to the U.S. Army that Hughes had used unethical procedures; therefore, the Army opened the contract for rebidding by all parties. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . Four troop-carrying Hueys (called a Blue Team) often sat idle somewhere nearby, ready to insert troops if the Pink Team discovered an interesting targetor were shot down and needed rescuing. A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. 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. I have come home with blood on my windshield. We got into another aircraft and went back out. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. 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. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 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. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Worthy, the OH-6 Loach and two other air scout helicopter pilots, all decorated, were in Topeka on Saturday night for an event at Forbes Field Airport designed to increase interest and. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER s/n 66-07841. I had another lead that went through 150 feet of trees, and they survived., Shafer himself had brushes with disaster, and his luck nearly ran out on a mission west of Dak To, near the border with Laos. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Click on the hotlinks for more information. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. 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. I followed footsteps. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. The Incident - Operation Triumphus [22] Its straightforward design made it easier to maintain than most other helicopters, while its relatively compact 26-foot main rotor made it easier to use tight landing zones. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. 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. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 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 Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. On the night of 56 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. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. 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.. [10][self-published source][11], Due to price escalations for both the OH-6 and spare components, the U.S. Army opted to reopen bids for the programme in 1967. article/image or apply full credit information. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. 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. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. 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. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. 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. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. [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. Date: 02/08/1969 But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. 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 Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. [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. 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. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. 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. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. Unknown as to mission impact. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. 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. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . 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. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. 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. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher 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. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods Joint Services Incident Damage Report. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . It later turned out that Howard Hughes purposely undervalued his estimate and deceptively won out against Fairchild-Hiller - his reasoning being that a long-term US Army commitment to his helicopter would, over time, make the deal profitable at some point. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Required fields are marked *. But the Vietnam War was unlike any previous American conflict; there were few real definable frontlines, and combatants needed to know what was happening all around them, all the time. 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. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. 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. 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. What was a loach helicopter? - Quora Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. 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 Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. 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. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. 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. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The helicopter was hit in the Left Side 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. 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. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. 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. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 Possible mast-mounted sight. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. Privacy Statement The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. [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 Cobra was fast and deadly. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | Military Wiki | Fandom 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). It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops 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. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. 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. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. [27], During the early 1970s, Soviet-supplied SA-7 Grail shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles emerged amongst North Vietnamese troops; one hit could down a Loach, potentially dealing fatal damage before its crew were aware that they were under fire. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Unit: 173 ABN The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack.