The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. All Rights Reserved. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. 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. 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 Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. . s/n 66-07841. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). 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. 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 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. Armament A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . If you would like 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. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. 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. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. [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. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. 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. New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. A.J. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. South Vietnam 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. Unknown as to mission impact. 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. 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. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. 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! This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. 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). All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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). [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. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN 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 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 AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. | READ MORE. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. 2 Stinger AAM. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. It never flew again. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. 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. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. 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. 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. 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable. This. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. 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. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. The AH-6 and its troop-carrying sibling, the MH-6, are still heavily used by U.S. special-operations forces, as everything from airborne sniper platforms to transports inserting small teams to expeditionary light attack helicopters. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. 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. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. 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. 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. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. Unit: 173 ABN It was the same for Jim. [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. 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. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . 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. [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. 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 Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. In support of the Helicopter Flight Mechanics syllabus, the USNTPS operates surplus Army OH-6B Helicopters which were refurbished by the Army National Guard, Gulfport, Mississippi in 1991. 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. Despite a strong outcry from crews in Vietnam, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa, powered by the same Allison T-63 engine as the OH-6, was being distributed to Army units. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. [22], Following the April 1980 failure of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of American hostages in Tehran), it was determined that the military lacked aircraft and crews who were trained and prepared to perform special operations missions. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. I followed footsteps. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. 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. Historical Snapshot: OH-6 Cayuse/Hughes 500 Helicopter Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). Light Attack Helicopters 3. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. Pilot sold separately. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. The Incident - Operation Triumphus They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. 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. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. Table of Contents 1. The Bell UH-1 Huey & the Hughes OH-6 Loach Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . Best Vietnam Helicopter Book - General Helicopter Forum - Vertical (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) History | Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. 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. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. 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. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 History. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. With US Army evaluations of each prototype ongoing, the underpowered Bell offering was formally dropped from contention and the US Army decision favored the Hughes design over the Fairchild-Hiller. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. 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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops in Vietnam. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. The US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. [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 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 January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. 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. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 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. [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. By Richard Toops. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. 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. 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. 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. I had another lead that went through 150 feet of trees, and they survived., Shafer himself had brushes with disaster, and his luck nearly ran out on a mission west of Dak To, near the border with Laos. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. 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. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. 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. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 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. 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. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. The guidance systems on newer attack helicoptersoften working with or even controlling the cameras of reconnaissance droneshave relegated to history the hunter role in the hunter-killer missions. [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. 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. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH 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. 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. 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 flames covered my boots and lower legs. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. 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). In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. What was a loach helicopter? - Quora 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. (7.62MM) 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. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Cobras generally attacked with rockets, preferred for long-range accuracy, switching to the less-accurate chin-mounted machine gun and grenade launcher only if they were far enough away from friendly troops or if the rocketsAH-1s could carry as many as 76 rocketsran out. | The following text is exclusive to this site. contact us here and we will remove the They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns.
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