All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. 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. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 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. 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. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. 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. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The observers and gunners had even less experience. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. [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. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971.
Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. It never flew again. 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. Casualties = 01 WIA . For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. The Cobra was fast and deadly. 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. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. I spent more time with them.. 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 Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. 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. 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. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. Adopted after. This. 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. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally.
Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. "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. The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. The Model 369, with its Allison T63-A-5A series turboshaft engine, took its first flight on February 27, 1963, under the military designation YOH-6A. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Cookie Policy Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. 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. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. 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. 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. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. 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. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. | The following text is exclusive to this site. 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. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com
The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). 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. 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. Table of Contents 1. 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. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck.
Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By 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. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. 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. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . Date: 02/08/1969 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. [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. [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. 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. 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 helicopter Continued Flight. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. 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. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. 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. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. [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.
Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . s/n 66-07841. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968
Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter 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. It was the same for Jim. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Lt. Col. 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 subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. 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. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. In this theatre, it was commonly operated in teams with other rotorcraft, such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, using so-called "hunter-killer" tactics to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets; the OH-6 would act as bait to draw enemy fire and mark targets for other platforms such as the AH-1 to attack. 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. 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. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe.
It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. 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. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. USNTPS plans to retain the aircraft indefinitely and continue to improve the safety, reliability, and usefulness of the aircraft in the test pilot training role. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. 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. 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. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy.
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Wikipedia 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. If you would like This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. South Vietnam If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. This was a Combat incident. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Kane and Casher were pulled aboard and returned to Khe Sanh, but the Huey barely made it back; slicing trees had left its blades shredded, and the tail section had almost separated.
Historical Snapshot: OH-6 Cayuse/Hughes 500 Helicopter Advertising Notice [22][23] Prior to the arrival of the AH-1, "hunter-killer" teams often relied on the firepower from armed models of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles.
The Bell UH-1 Huey & the Hughes OH-6 Loach The Model 206 was mostly employed as a general utility helicopter, but at times it was also used for transporting troops and high command, in addition to serving observational and reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam war. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods 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. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. 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 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.
These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. 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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. 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. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did.
loach | My Vietnam Experience The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. As of 2021, these records still stand. 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. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. [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.
Hunter-killer team - Wikipedia The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. 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 aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. 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.
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