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. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. I tried to move the stuck controls and prayed for a place to set down. It took all of Kanes strength to pull out of a steep dive, and they crash-landed with a horrific thud. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers 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 Cobra was fast and deadly. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. 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). The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. 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. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. The Loach also had its own gunner in the rear and could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. Your email address will not be published. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft were returned to the U.S., where they were dismantled and converted back to a standard configuration; they continued to be operated as such for a time. The Cayuse . Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. 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. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. 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. 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. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. 2 .50 cal MG pods 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. 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). 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. 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. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. 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. It never flew again. 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. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. About Us | Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. 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. 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. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. We were combat trackers, says Mills. 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. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Home | I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. Unknown as to mission impact. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. 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. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit Trademarks and copyright information is respected. Lt. Col. 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). They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine 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. 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). They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter 60,632 views Mar 30, 2013 327 Dislike Share Save Steve1958OR 221 subscribers A friend came by with his restored US Army Loach OH-6 helicopter. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Over time, the effectiveness of this pairing was such that enemies would often decide against firing on the relatively vulnerable OH-1 in fear of the response that would be unleased by the AH-1. Book A Flight | I could see a cigarette butt still burning. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. 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. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. It later turned out that Howard Hughes purposely undervalued his estimate and deceptively won out against Fairchild-Hiller - his reasoning being that a long-term US Army commitment to his helicopter would, over time, make the deal profitable at some point. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube [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. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. Cookie Settings, pilot. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps.

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