However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Cookie Policy The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. . 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. If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. 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 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. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 The Cobra was fast and deadly. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. Adopted after. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. 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. Upon encountering enemy fire, Loaches were to leave immediately, dropping smoke grenades to mark the target so that within seconds, the Cobra could roll in. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. The killer role persists. 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. [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. History. Pilot sold separately. Your email address will not be published. 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon About Us | Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. 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. 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. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter - MILITARY TODAY The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. 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. 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. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. 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. What was a loach helicopter? - Quora It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. 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. 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. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. 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. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. 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 a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. . 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. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. 2 Stinger AAM. Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. 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 Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. 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 OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or a 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. South Vietnam The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. 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. 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. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. 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. 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. [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. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN 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. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). Light Attack Helicopters 3. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER 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. The 1-245 modified infantry night vision goggles and worked to develop the necessary skills for rapid deployment with Little Birds and C-130s.[31]. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. 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. 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 architects of the task force identified the need for a small helicopter to land in the most restrictive locations and that was also easily transported on Air Force transport aircraft. 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. 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. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Click on the hotlinks for more information. 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 Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. article/image or apply full credit information. [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon The helicopter Continued Flight. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. Stanley Hiller complained to the U.S. Army that Hughes had used unethical procedures; therefore, the Army opened the contract for rebidding by all parties. By Richard Toops. 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. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter 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 Loach's main role was reconnaisance 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. ", FAI Record ID #11656 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance over a closed circuit without landing, FAI Record ID #11655 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance without landing, Obituary: Robert G. Ferry; Air Force veteran was record-setting test pilot, "In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close", "Jane's Aircraft Upgrades, MD Helicopters (Hughes) Model 500 (Military Versions)", "Dominican Republic Air Force Unit History", "Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force OH-6J", "Breda Nardi Hughes NH.500M in Armed Forces of Malta service", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hughes_OH-6_Cayuse&oldid=1133333304, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 07:46.
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