I spent more time with them.. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. 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. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Within that same year, help was on the way. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Since units were all but permanently assigned to particular areas, they came to know the local geography intimately and could spot anything out of the ordinary. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. 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! Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. [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. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). Advertising Notice 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods 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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side The Cobra was fast and deadly. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. [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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. 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. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. 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. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. "Pink teams" of scout and attack helicopters, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the Vietnam War; In anti-submarine warfare an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as destroyers as killers. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. [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. Provision for packaged armament on port side, including an XM-27 7.62mm (0.300in) machine-gun with 2,000 - 4,000 rounds of ammunition; or an XM-75 grenade launcher, Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Task Force 160, List of military aircraft of the United States, Hearings on military posture and H.R. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. 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. 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. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. 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. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. 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. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. 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). Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. 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. The OH-6A Cayuse fulfilled this role and became known as the Little Bird. The pilots tasked with operating the choppers were selected from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 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 was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. [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. 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.. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 Lt. Col. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. History. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com 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. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. 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. [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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. We were combat trackers, says Mills. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. The Cayuse . 2 .50 cal MG pods The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. Unknown as to mission impact. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. 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 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 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. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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 Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. It was the same for Jim. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. 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). OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. 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. Helicopter took 1 hits from: 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). 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. 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. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. A.J. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 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. 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. 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. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR].
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