They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. His three tours to Vietnam included death-defying scouting missions piloting his Hughes OH-6 light observation helicopter (or Loach) as well as gunship runs inside his AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.. Cozzalio was also involved in nine aircraft mishaps; he was shot down six times and suffered three hard landings. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Table of Contents 1. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter - MILITARY TODAY It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit Observation Helicopters 4. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. 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. 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. 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. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. 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). We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. 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. (7.62MM) If you would like Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. 2 Hellfire ATGM We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. 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. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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]. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. Light Attack Helicopters 3. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. 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. 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. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 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. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. 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 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. 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. 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. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. USNTPS plans to retain the aircraft indefinitely and continue to improve the safety, reliability, and usefulness of the aircraft in the test pilot training role. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. 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. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. 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. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. 2 Stinger AAM. Historical Snapshot: OH-6 Cayuse/Hughes 500 Helicopter [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. 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. The Model 369, with its Allison T63-A-5A series turboshaft engine, took its first flight on February 27, 1963, under the military designation YOH-6A. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. Disclaimer Photographs (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) 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. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) - Military Factory The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. FAQ | The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. Home | 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. 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. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. 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. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. Unit: 173 ABN Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka | READ MORE. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. The Bell UH-1 Huey & the Hughes OH-6 Loach Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Unknown as to mission impact. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 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. s/n 66-07841. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. [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. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 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. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. The helicopter Continued Flight. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program.
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