"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. [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. 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 LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. 2 Hellfire ATGM 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 Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. This. 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. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. FAQ | Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. [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. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. 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. Cobra Gunship, Huey and Loach OH-6 Members of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry dedicated an OH-6 Loach Scout helicopter flown by their unit during the Vietnam War Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Your email address will not be published. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. 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. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close OH-6 Loach - Light Observation Helicopter - Brickmania Toys Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. It later turned out that Howard Hughes purposely undervalued his estimate and deceptively won out against Fairchild-Hiller - his reasoning being that a long-term US Army commitment to his helicopter would, over time, make the deal profitable at some point. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit 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. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. The Cobra was fast and deadly. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. 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. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. 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. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: About Us | When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. On the night of 5-6 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. 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. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . Disclaimer Photographs Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. 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. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. 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. 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. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. Privacy Statement In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. [17] On 26 March 1966, Jack Schwiebold set the closed circuit distance record in a YOH-6A at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flying without landing for 1,739.96mi (2,800.20km). 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. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. By Richard Toops. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Click on the hotlinks for more information. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. Cookie Settings, pilot. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. 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. The Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter as a primary attack helicopter in the Vietnam War for aerial assaults or as air cavalry. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. Pilot sold separately. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. 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. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Date: 03/25/1970 Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. contact us here and we will remove the s/n 67-16304 The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. ). Unknown as to mission impact. All Rights Reserved. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. 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. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. Historical Snapshot: OH-6 Cayuse/Hughes 500 Helicopter 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. s/n 66-07841. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. Helicopter took 2 hits from: While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. 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. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 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. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. 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. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. 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. 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. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . 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. 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. South Vietnam Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. 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. 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. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. 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. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. In the hunter-killer teams, the Loach would fly low over the jungle, drawing fire and then calling for the Cobra to kill the teams on the ground. The OH-6 was developed in response to the United States Army issuing Technical Specification 153 in 1960 to replace its Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 The Incident - Operation Triumphus It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. We were combat trackers, says Mills. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. 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. New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot 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). Home | The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. Your Privacy Rights Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. What was a loach helicopter? - Quora The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 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. 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. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training.

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