It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon This was a Combat incident. 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. Hughes Tool Company Aircraft Division submitted their Model 369 to fill a US Army requirement for a Light Observation Helicopter capable of performing a number of secondary duties including escort, attack and casualty evacuation duties. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . [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. | The following text is exclusive to this site. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. History | 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods 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 helicopter was hit in the Cockpit It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. 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 Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. 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. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. See his memoir Warpath: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60299643-warpath Posted as part of the \"War \u0026 Life: Discussions with Veterans\" project. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. The guidance systems on newer attack helicoptersoften working with or even controlling the cameras of reconnaissance droneshave relegated to history the hunter role in the hunter-killer missions. The Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. 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. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. The light observation helicopter OH-6 Cayuse, or Loach (based on the LOH acronym), was a Vietnam-era helicopter designed with speed and maneuverability in mind. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. 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. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. 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. 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". 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". Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. 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. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 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. 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). [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. [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. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Advertising Notice In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. 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. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: 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. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. 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. 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. 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. We were so close to the elephant grass that wed blow the grass apart to see if anyone was hiding in there, observer Bob Moses says. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. The Cayuse . Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. 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 used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. article/image or apply full credit information. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 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 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. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. The Army initially ordered 1,438 Hughes Model 369s, designated by the Army as the OH-6A Cayuse helicopters. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. (7.62MM) They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. 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. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 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. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. [6], During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded a production contract to Hughes; this initial order for 714 rotorcraft was subsequently increased to 1,300 along with an option for another 114. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. 2 Hellfire ATGM 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. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. 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. 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. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. As the reserve units have continued to move away from the OH-6 as their primary scout aircraft, military technical support of the aircraft has dwindled. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. Upon encountering enemy fire, Loaches were to leave immediately, dropping smoke grenades to mark the target so that within seconds, the Cobra could roll in. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. An inventive Bell Helicopter engineer was already at work on the worlds first attack helicopter, and Bells decision to keep the project hidden until complete let the model slip into service as a Huey derivative (see The Birth of the Cobra, Aug. 2017). 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 aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. This. 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. It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH By Richard Toops. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN 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. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. Unlike its troop-carrying ancestors, a Cobra was like a World War II fighter, says Jim Kane, who arrived in Vietnam fresh out of Purdue University. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. purchase. 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. 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 Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. 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. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. The 1-245th AVN BN enlisted 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 aircraft. A.J. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. The U.S. Army began to use Bell OH-13 Sioux and Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters, once artillery spotters, to scout ahead of UH-1D Huey formations in the moments before air assaults to gather information about landing zones and enemy locations. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. . In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. which many are taken will be available from our shop to Disclaimer Photographs The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. RMF3TG12 - Warren Motts, who started the Motts Military Museum, walks with a small child, past helicopters that where used in 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. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 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. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. Each time we went out, we got shot at. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. 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. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. 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. 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. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. s/n 66-07841. I spent more time with them.. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). 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. Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. 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). Possible mast-mounted sight. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. 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). 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. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. 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. 2 Stinger AAM. 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. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. The 1-245 modified infantry night vision goggles and worked to develop the necessary skills for rapid deployment with Little Birds and C-130s.[31]. I have come home with blood on my windshield. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. 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). As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. 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 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. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. [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. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. [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. 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. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. 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. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter Adopted after. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. 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. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . The mission training consisted of loading onto C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which would then transport them to forward staging areas over routes as long as 1,000 nautical miles (1,900km). Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province.
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