Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. The OH-6 was developed in response to the United States Army issuing Technical Specification 153 in 1960 to replace its Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. About Us | Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. I followed footsteps. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. Terms of Use [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. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. 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. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. 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. 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). This helicopter was UNK 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. 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 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. 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. 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. The Cobra was fast and deadly. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 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-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. Here are the 24 helicopters used 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. 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. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. [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. s/n 67-16304 Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. 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.. 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. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The four-passenger teardrop shaped "Flying egg" (six-passenger with rear seats folded-down) was a small, light, sturdy, maneuverable helicopter, with very low drag. The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. During 1964, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a memorandum directing that all U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, while the U.S. Army transitioned to solely operating rotor-wing 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. In this theatre, it was commonly operated in teams with other rotorcraft, such as the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, using so-called "hunter-killer" tactics to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets; the OH-6 would act as bait to draw enemy fire and mark targets for other platforms such as the AH-1 to attack. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. 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. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. [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. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . 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). | The following text is exclusive to this site. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. 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. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. 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. Cookie Settings, pilot. The U.S. Marine Corps still flies AH-1 SuperCobras as its main attack helicopter, with the latest versionthe AH-1Z Viper so upgraded and modernized that a Vietnam-era pilot might be hard-pressed to recognize it. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. 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. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. The OH-6 was largely removed from active U.S. Army service in favor of the Kiowa, but modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008. 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). 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. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. [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. Possible mast-mounted sight. The Cayuse . Date: 03/25/1970 A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. [10][self-published source][11], Due to price escalations for both the OH-6 and spare components, the U.S. Army opted to reopen bids for the programme in 1967. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. Operation Honey Badger was canceled after the hostages were released on 20 January 1981, and for a short while, it looked as if the task force would be disbanded and the personnel returned to their former units. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. Within that same year, help was on the way. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. 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. [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. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. 2 .50 cal MG pods This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. ). On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. 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. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. On the night of 56 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. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. [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. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER 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. Four troop-carrying Hueys (called a Blue Team) often sat idle somewhere nearby, ready to insert troops if the Pink Team discovered an interesting targetor were shot down and needed rescuing. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 This was a Combat incident. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Required fields are marked *. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. The Little Birds weaponry is a far cry from the M60 machine gun carried aboard a Loach in Vietnam: AH-6s can carry miniguns, rocket pods, grenade launchers, Hellfire missiles, and air-to-air Stinger missiles. We were so close to the elephant grass that wed blow the grass apart to see if anyone was hiding in there, observer Bob Moses says. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. 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. 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. 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. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams, combining the OH-6A Loach (white team) with a AH-1G Cobra atacke helicopter (red team). Books/Magazines Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. 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. Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. 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. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. 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. The killer role persists. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. 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. 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. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. Unknown as to mission impact. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. But the light aluminum skin could be easily pierced by rifle bullets, and it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash, and a strong structural truss protected critical systemslike the people inside. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. 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. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. [7] The Hiller design, designated OH-5A,[7] had featured a boosted control system, while the Hughes design did not, a difference that accounted for some of the price increase. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Logan Nye Updated December 07, 2022 09:30:25 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. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. 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. Light Attack Helicopters 3. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. [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. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. 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 OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 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. History | The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations. 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). 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 AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. contact us here and we will remove the South Vietnam The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. 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. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The AH-6 and its troop-carrying sibling, the MH-6, are still heavily used by U.S. special-operations forces, as everything from airborne sniper platforms to transports inserting small teams to expeditionary light attack helicopters. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under. 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. 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. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. 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. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. 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. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. We were combat trackers, says Mills. [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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. 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. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72