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The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. 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. 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. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. ", FAI Record ID #11656 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance over a closed circuit without landing, FAI Record ID #11655 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance without landing, Obituary: Robert G. Ferry; Air Force veteran was record-setting test pilot, "In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close", "Jane's Aircraft Upgrades, MD Helicopters (Hughes) Model 500 (Military Versions)", "Dominican Republic Air Force Unit History", "Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force OH-6J", "Breda Nardi Hughes NH.500M in Armed Forces of Malta service", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hughes_OH-6_Cayuse&oldid=1133333304, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 07:46. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War - VHPA Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. 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. Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. This. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. 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. 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. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. [22] Its straightforward design made it easier to maintain than most other helicopters, while its relatively compact 26-foot main rotor made it easier to use tight landing zones. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. 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. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. loach | My Vietnam Experience The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. 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). The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. Best Vietnam Helicopter Book - General Helicopter Forum - Vertical 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. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. 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. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. 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. Cookie Policy Helicopter took 1 hits from: The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. Home | Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. 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. 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. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. 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. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. [28][29], The pilots selected to fly the OH-6A helicopters came from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion and were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the rotorcraft. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. 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. [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. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 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. 2 Stinger AAM. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. The helicopter made a Forced Landing. 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. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 Armament We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. s/n 67-16304 Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. The Mojave is a large heavy-lift helicopter that was deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965 to assist in recovery of downed US aircraft, but it proved ineffective. During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. Your email address will not be published. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. Your email address will not be published. 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. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. 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 As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. ). Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. [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. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. 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 OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Fewer than 2,000 of the type were produced though the original went on to spawn a plethora of viable performers including the Hughes 500 "Defender" and the special forces-minded MH-6 "Little Bird". 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. A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. 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). OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website Casualties = 01 WIA . 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. This helicopter was chosen by the US Army over the proposals of a number of other helicopter manufactures, designated the OH-6A Cayuse, and entered service in 1965. 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. . contact us here and we will remove the Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. I spent more time with them.. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. Contact | (7.62MM) In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. 2 .50 cal MG pods Privacy Statement So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. [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. The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. 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. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH Click on the hotlinks for more information. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. The Bell UH-1B/C was modified from the UH-1A Cobra to include a set of machine guns for attacking ground targets.