The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) 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. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. 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. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. The flames covered my boots and lower legs. s/n 67-16304 AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Terms of Use The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. 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. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. 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. Helicopter took 2 hits from: Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War - VHPA Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. 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. 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. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. 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). Unit: 173 ABN 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. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam 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. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. 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. The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. 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. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. 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. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Wikipedia s/n 66-07841. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft 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. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. 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. When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Click on the hotlinks for more information. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. While its light aluminum skin could be easily penetrated by small arms fire, it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash while the rugged structure protected key systems and its crew; even though the OH-6 was relatively difficult to shoot down, its occupants would often survive forced landings that would have likely been fatal onboard other rotorcraft. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. Kiowas, largely relegated to low-threat cargo and liaison missions in Vietnam, were after the war tasked to spot targets from afar and guide Cobras (and later, Boeing AH-64 Apaches) to good firing spots. The OH-6 Cayuse was developed from specifications issued by the U.S. Army in 1960 for a light observation helicopter (LOH), and the familiar Loach nickname was derived from the acronym. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. Scout pilots were a different breed of cat, says Cobra pilot Jim Kane, who likens his former colleagues to the airborne equivalent of the Tunnel Rats, soldiers who crawled head-first into Viet Cong-built tunnels without any idea what awaited them there. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By 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. 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. A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. But the light aluminum skin could be easily pierced by rifle bullets, and it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash, and a strong structural truss protected critical systemslike the people inside. Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. 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). Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. . (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. 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. 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. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War 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 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. Within that same year, help was on the way. Advertising Notice Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. 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. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. 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. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. 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 AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. 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. contact us here and we will remove the Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Date: 02/08/1969 Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Cookie Policy The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. 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. 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. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. 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. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. 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. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. "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. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. 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. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. 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 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. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. 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. Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. The US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. It was the same for Jim. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. 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. 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 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. History. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. 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. 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 Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) Book A Flight | During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. purchase. The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) trains and graduates qualified engineering test pilots, flight test officers, and flight test engineers to conduct test and evaluation (T & E) at the Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Patuxent River Maryland and other activities. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Light Observation Helicopter - Wikipedia Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. We got into another aircraft and went back out. 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. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database.
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