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. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. FAQ | The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. 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. Its cockpit teems with electronics and sensors, and its stub wings are heavy with heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided Hellfires, rockets (like those used in Vietnam), and even fuel-filled drop tanks. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. History. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. contact us here and we will remove the You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 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. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. (7.62MM) As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. I have come home with blood on my windshield. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. 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. 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 is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. 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. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. 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. I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. In August 1967, the AH-1G Cobra arrived in Vietnam. The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. 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. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. 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. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. 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. 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. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. During 1967, following price escalations for the OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened the programme to bids for as many as 2,700 additional airframes beyond the 1,300 OH-6s already contracted. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. [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. 2 Stinger AAM. 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. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . It had to do with the timbre of your voicehow you talked to other guys on the radio, says Romero, who arrived in Vietnam in 1970, initially as a Huey co-pilot. [4] The prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they competed against the other ten prototype aircraft produced by Bell and Fairchild-Hiller. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. s/n 67-16304 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. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. 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! [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. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. Book A Flight | Contact | Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. 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. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. South Vietnam For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. s/n 66-07841. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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 SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 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. All Rights Reserved. Click on the hotlinks for more information. The killer role persists. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. . Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. 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 Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. 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 first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . About Us | [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. This was a Combat incident. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. 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. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. 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. 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. That was about it.. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. [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. 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. You were right in the enemys face with a helicopter and had to know what you were doing, recalls warrant officer Clyde Romero of his 1,100 hours flying scout missions over South Vietnam in 1971. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. 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. [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. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Helicopter took 2 hits from: The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. article/image or apply full credit information. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. Books/Magazines During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. 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. 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. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships.
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