If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. A.J. 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. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. 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. MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail. 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 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. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. That was about it.. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. Date: 03/25/1970 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 OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? I was just out of flight school when I went to Vietnam. He flew Loaches for the next 11 months, and today is an accountant in Seattle. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. It was the same for Jim. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. 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. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. Cookie Policy [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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: 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. Helicopter took 1 hits from: 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. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. contact us here and we will remove the Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Pilot sold separately. 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. 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 Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. A.J. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. 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. 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. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. 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. 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. 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). It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. 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. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. City of Walnut Creek Special Recreation Museum Tour October 26, 2019, United Airlines Family Day Fly-in October 13, 2019, Napa County Airport Day September 7, 2019, Virginia Rose II Cobra transferred to Vietnam Helicopters Museum August 14, 2019, Memorial Day 2019 Ceremonies at Oak Hill Memorial Park & Cemetery. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. South Vietnam The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. Possible mast-mounted sight. 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. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. 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. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200. 2 Hellfire ATGM document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. Unknown as to mission impact. 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). You can have all the guns, vests, and radios you want, but you need street smarts or youre going to be dead within an hour.. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. 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 US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. Advertising Notice The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the US Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: [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. 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. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. 2 Stinger AAM. 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. 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. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) It would often be crewed by a pilot and an observer; up to five passengers or up to 1,000lb of cargo could be carried internally. All Rights Reserved. During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. 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).
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