Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. 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". Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the Loach helicopter, as it was better known, fast became the primary chopper flown in Vietnam. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". 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. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. [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. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 It never flew again. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. A.J. 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. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. 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. Cookie Settings, pilot. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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. Observation Helicopters 4. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 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. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. 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. which many are taken will be available from our shop to The Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: 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. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. [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. article/image or apply full credit information. 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. 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. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Date: 02/08/1969 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. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. 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. 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. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. Helicopter took 2 hits from: In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. 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.. Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. 2 Hellfire ATGM OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. 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. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: 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. Disclaimer Photographs [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. The Cayuse . A.J. Required fields are marked *. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. 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. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Las mejores ofertas para Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp (ingls) Paperb estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. 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. Helicopter took 1 hits from: [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. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. We got into another aircraft and went back out. During 1967, following price escalations for the OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened the programme to bids for as many as 2,700 additional airframes beyond the 1,300 OH-6s already contracted. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. 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. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. I have come home with blood on my windshield. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. 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. [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. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. 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. 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. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. 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. 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. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. 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. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. ", 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. 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. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. 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. Upon encountering enemy fire, Loaches were to leave immediately, dropping smoke grenades to mark the target so that within seconds, the Cobra could roll in. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com The helicopter made a Forced Landing. 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). Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. [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. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. 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. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. 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. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. Contact | Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine I spent more time with them.. 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. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. 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. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. We were combat trackers, says Mills. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. 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. 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 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). The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. Possible mast-mounted sight. This. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. 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. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. [26], During 1972, a pair of heavily modified OH-6As were utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America for a covert wire-tapping mission. Date: 03/25/1970 ). 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. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . 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. Pilot sold separately. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 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. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. 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..