A.J. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. 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. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. [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. 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. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER To counter the US, the Vietnamese employed their helicopter fleets of mostly Soviet-made aircraft. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. An inventive Bell Helicopter engineer was already at work on the worlds first attack helicopter, and Bells decision to keep the project hidden until complete let the model slip into service as a Huey derivative (see The Birth of the Cobra, Aug. 2017). The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. 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. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. In support of the Helicopter Flight Mechanics syllabus, the USNTPS operates surplus Army OH-6B Helicopters which were refurbished by the Army National Guard, Gulfport, Mississippi in 1991. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 It was pretty hairy, and we got the hell out of there. But Boucher got a rush from the missions, and stayed six months beyond what was required of a draftee. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. 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.. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. 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. 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. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods 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 her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! 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). I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. 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. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. It was the same for Jim. 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. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. 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. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. The Army initially ordered 1,438 Hughes Model 369s, designated by the Army as the OH-6A Cayuse helicopters. It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops 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. [2] Originally designated as the YHO-6A according to the Army's designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as the YOH-6A in 1962 when the Department of Defense created a joint designation system for all aircraft. 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. [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. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. 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 "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. I spent more time with them.. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. History | The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. About Us | 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. 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. 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. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS 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. 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. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the port (left) side mounting M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or a 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. 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. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 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. Adopted after. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. We got into another aircraft and went back out. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. South Vietnam That was about it.. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. 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. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. contact us here and we will remove the The 1-245 modified infantry night vision goggles and worked to develop the necessary skills for rapid deployment with Little Birds and C-130s.[31]. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. If you would like It never flew again. The Cobra was fast and deadly. 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. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Thats why the majority of pilots who served in Vietnam shared the opinion that, if you were going to crash, it was best to do it in a Loach. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. 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. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. [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. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. 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. A.J. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. 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". Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. 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. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. Date: 02/08/1969 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. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. 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. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. 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.
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