The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 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. 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. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 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. 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 served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. I spent more time with them.. Privacy Statement 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. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. 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. 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. 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. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. Each time we went out, we got shot at. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. Disclaimer Photographs The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. Each could be equipped with any number of armaments, including grenade launchers, 7.62 mm miniguns, Hydra 70 mm unguided rockets, and TOW and Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. 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. contact us here and we will remove the In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. Terms of Use Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. 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. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). 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. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. 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. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. 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. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. 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 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). The helicopter made a Forced Landing. 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. RMF3TG12 - Warren Motts, who started the Motts Military Museum, walks with a small child, past helicopters that where used in the Vietnam War. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. 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. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. . [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. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. purchase. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. The helicopter Continued Flight. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Kanes commanding officer flew his command-and-control Huey to the ravine where Kane and Casher huddled. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. FAQ | The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. 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. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. ", 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. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. 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. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. 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. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. [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. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. 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. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. 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 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. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. It was the same for Jim. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. [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. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. 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. s/n 66-07841. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. [2] Originally designated as the YHO-6A according to the Army's designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as the YOH-6A in 1962 when the Department of Defense created a joint designation system for all aircraft. 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. Shop | Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. 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. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Casualties = 01 WIA . 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. 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. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Cookie Settings, pilot. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? 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. This was a Combat incident. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. 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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Stepping away from her academic career, Samantha previously worked as a Heritage Researcher and now writes content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics. 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. A.J. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: 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. Date: 02/08/1969 I have come home with blood on my windshield. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . The Army dictated that after 300 hours of flight time, each Loach go through a thorough inspection, but in practice such inspections were rare: Few Loaches survived to reach that mark. [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. 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. 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. 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. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. It never flew again. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit 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 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. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. 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. Adopted after. [26], During 1972, a pair of heavily modified OH-6As were utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America for a covert wire-tapping mission. 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). The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. 2 Hellfire ATGM Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. [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. https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.com/Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact Preston Jones: pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488 While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. We got into another aircraft and went back out. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". 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. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. 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. Armament The U.S. Marine Corps still flies AH-1 SuperCobras as its main attack helicopter, with the latest versionthe AH-1Z Viper so upgraded and modernized that a Vietnam-era pilot might be hard-pressed to recognize it. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. 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. [17] On 26 March 1966, Jack Schwiebold set the closed circuit distance record in a YOH-6A at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flying without landing for 1,739.96mi (2,800.20km). The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. 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. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. As of 2021, these records still stand. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. The Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter as a primary attack helicopter in the Vietnam War for aerial assaults or as air cavalry. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (nicknamed "Loach", after the requirement acronym LOHLight Observation Helicopter) is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Possible mast-mounted sight. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. By Richard Toops. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard.
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