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. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. I followed footsteps. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. 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). 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 [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. I tried to move the stuck controls and prayed for a place to set down. It took all of Kanes strength to pull out of a steep dive, and they crash-landed with a horrific thud. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. 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. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. 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. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. 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. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 [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. Krausz was ordered to Vietnam in April 1971, and today teaches Army students how to fly the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota, a twin-engine trainer. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter 60,632 views Mar 30, 2013 327 Dislike Share Save Steve1958OR 221 subscribers A friend came by with his restored US Army Loach OH-6 helicopter. 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. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. 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. 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. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. [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. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. President As we navigate rapidly evolving military culture and Like any deployed troops, Russian soldiers make calls Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! Accordingly, the U.S. Army's fixed-wing airplane, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, which was utilized for artillery observation and reconnaissance flights, would be replaced by the incoming OH-6A. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. 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. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. 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. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter 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. Advertising Notice 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. 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. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. They were usually joined by Cobra gunships either in hunter-killer teams where the Loach hunted and the Cobra killed or in air mobile cavalry units where both airframes supported cavalry and infantrymen on the ground. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. 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. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. 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 Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. 2 Stinger AAM. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. Your Privacy Rights Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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 US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) trains and graduates qualified engineering test pilots, flight test officers, and flight test engineers to conduct test and evaluation (T & E) at the Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Patuxent River Maryland and other activities. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 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. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. We were combat trackers, says Mills. 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). 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 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. 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. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). A total of five prototypes were built, all of which were powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft engine, capable of producing 252shp (188kW). [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. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) 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. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. 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. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. Lt. Col. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. But the light aluminum skin could be easily pierced by rifle bullets, and it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash, and a strong structural truss protected critical systemslike the people inside. 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. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. 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. (7.62MM) Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. Pilot sold separately. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Helicopter took 2 hits from: Date: 02/08/1969 The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. 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. 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 was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. 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". 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.. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). [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. which many are taken will be available from our shop to The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. 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. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. 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 Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. 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. The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the US Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit The helicopter was hit in the Left Side Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. 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. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. 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 the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. article/image or apply full credit information. 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. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. Possible mast-mounted sight. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. I spent more time with them.. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 contact us here and we will remove the Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. A little gory but thats how close we were. As the Loach flew among the trees, the rear-seat pilot in the Snake circling above kept a close eye on the little scout and the front-seat gunner jotted down whatever the Loach observers radioed. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. The observers and gunners had even less experience. 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. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. 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. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . 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 Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. 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. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. 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). You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. While its light aluminum skin could be easily penetrated by small arms fire, it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash while the rugged structure protected key systems and its crew; even though the OH-6 was relatively difficult to shoot down, its occupants would often survive forced landings that would have likely been fatal onboard other rotorcraft. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. 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. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. 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. A.J. [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. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. South Vietnam 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. 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 (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. 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. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . 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. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! Your email address will not be published. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. It was the same for Jim. 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. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. 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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