In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. [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. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Light Attack Helicopters 3. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . Click on the hotlinks for more information. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets. Home | 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. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. . Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. 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. This eventually gave way to the loach nickname, and was intended to provide the US military with a light-class, rotary-wing craft that could fulfill a number of purposes: search and rescue, close air support, MEDEVAC, observation, transport, reconnaissance and attack roles. 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. 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. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. 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. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. 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. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. 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 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. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. 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. I followed footsteps. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. They chose the OH-6A scout helicopter to fill that role, and it became known as the Little Bird compared to the other aircraft in the task force, the MH-60 and the MH-47. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under.
US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. 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. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. 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. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. Your email address will not be published. We operated from fixed bases that were islands, if you will, of allied control, says Hugh Mills, who flew both Loaches and Cobras in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, and went on to fly helicopters for the Kansas City Police Department. This. 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. If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. 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). The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades.
Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) 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. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) [16], Early on in the OH-6's career, the type demonstrated its performance in a particularly prominent manner via the setting of 23 individual world records for helicopters during 1966 in the categories of speed, endurance and time to climb. Unknown as to mission impact. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 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. 2 Hellfire ATGM [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. Lt. Col. This helicopter was UNK
New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot Historical Snapshot: OH-6 Cayuse/Hughes 500 Helicopter Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 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. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. 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.
Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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. [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. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. Pilot sold separately. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. 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. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. 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. 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. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. Over time, the effectiveness of this pairing was such that enemies would often decide against firing on the relatively vulnerable OH-1 in fear of the response that would be unleased by the AH-1. 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. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. 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.
The Bell UH-1 Huey & the Hughes OH-6 Loach Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 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. Each time we went out, we got shot at. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. It never flew again. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. s/n 67-16304 Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. 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). Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Its cockpit teems with electronics and sensors, and its stub wings are heavy with heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided Hellfires, rockets (like those used in Vietnam), and even fuel-filled drop tanks. In one particular clandestine incident in 1972, known as the Vinh wiretap, a pair of OH-6As were heavily modified and used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America was used to infiltrate Vietnamese high level communications, providing valuable intelligence. The Cayuse . 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. [23][22] Such a team would have normally comprised a single OH-6 that would fly relatively slow and at a low altitude while attempting to spot the presence of enemies. Date: 03/25/1970 [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. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat.
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | Military Wiki | Fandom By Richard Toops. [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. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. 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. 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 Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly.
29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Possible mast-mounted sight. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. This was a Combat incident. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. 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. I have come home with blood on my windshield. 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". It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. s/n 66-07841. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. 2 Stinger AAM. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Your email address will not be published. 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. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. Some crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the OH-6, however, the transition proceeded while scouting doctrine was changed to emphasis operations from greater distances. [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). During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. 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. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. 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.
We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. 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. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. 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. 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 Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. Shop | (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. 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. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. I spent more time with them.. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! "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.
Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. 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. Terms of Use He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. 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.
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