Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. 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 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). Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. 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. Furthermore, a number of civilian customers also flew Kawasaki-built OH-6s for a variety of missions, including emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, and agricultural work. 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. This was a Combat incident. 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 hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. 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. 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 This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. contact us here and we will remove the Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN 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). 2 Stinger AAM. 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. Each time we went out, we got shot at. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. History | [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. 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. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. 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. 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. I spent more time with them., Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. 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. 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 developed from specifications issued by the U.S. Army in 1960 for a light observation helicopter (LOH), and the familiar Loach nickname was derived from the acronym. 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. [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. Your email address will not be published. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) article/image or apply full credit information. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. Book A Flight | But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Advertising Notice Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. ). The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. 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. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. 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 CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Unit: 173 ABN The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. He recalls: 360 degrees around you was enemy territory, and the ability to work with American and [South Vietnamese] units on the ground really required aviation to be able to look eye to eye to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Loach-Cobra pairings were sent out more and more frequently, until their main role was to gather general intelligence rather than prepare landing zones. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. s/n 67-16304 MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. 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 United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. All Rights Reserved. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. 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. 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. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. It had a distinct teardrop-shaped fuselage, which made it instantly recognizable, and a cockpit for two crew members, along with two removable seats in the passenger cabin. . Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. | The following text is exclusive to this site. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. We got into another aircraft and went back out. 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. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. (7.62MM) It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. 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. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. Privacy Statement Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. The Cayuse . 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. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. Adopted after. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. [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 went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. Disclaimer Photographs It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. We were combat trackers, says Mills. 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. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. It would often be crewed by a pilot and an observer; up to five passengers or up to 1,000lb of cargo could be carried internally. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. Date: 03/25/1970 On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. 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. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. The killer role persists. 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 enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. The helicopter Continued Flight. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Armament 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. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. 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. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. 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. [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. 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. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Cookie Policy 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.
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