The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. 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. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. [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. 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. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). I have come home with blood on my windshield. 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. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas 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. 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. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. 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. which many are taken will be available from our shop to Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. 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. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. The Cobras high above had a few seconds of warningthey could spot the missiles exhaust plumebut were all the more tempting because at their higher altitudes they were more easily seen than the smaller Loaches. The Cayuse . 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. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 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. 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. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. [22][23] Prior to the arrival of the AH-1, "hunter-killer" teams often relied on the firepower from armed models of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. loach | My Vietnam Experience 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. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. Unit: 173 ABN s/n 66-07841. 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. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. 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. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. ). Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. 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). Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. The Model 206 was mostly employed as a general utility helicopter, but at times it was also used for transporting troops and high command, in addition to serving observational and reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam war. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . 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. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. 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. 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. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. [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. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot The helicopter was hit in the Left Side The US Army subsequently reopened the LOH program to engineering companies, offering a new contract for 2,700 additional airframes. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. Disclaimer Photographs 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. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft The guidance systems on newer attack helicoptersoften working with or even controlling the cameras of reconnaissance droneshave relegated to history the hunter role in the hunter-killer missions. 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. We operated from fixed bases that were islands, if you will, of allied control, says Hugh Mills, who flew both Loaches and Cobras in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, and went on to fly helicopters for the Kansas City Police Department. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. 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. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. . 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War - VHPA During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com 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). Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Each could be equipped with any number of armaments, including grenade launchers, 7.62 mm miniguns, Hydra 70 mm unguided rockets, and TOW and Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. 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. 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 As well, its tough frame made it safer than other helicopters during crashes, as its aluminum skin absorbed the energy and the structure protected the crew. See his memoir Warpath: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60299643-warpath Posted as part of the \"War \u0026 Life: Discussions with Veterans\" project. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Wikipedia We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. Privacy Statement Your Privacy Rights 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. FAQ | 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. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. A.J. The Incident - Operation Triumphus 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.