loach helicopter vietnam

This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. I followed footsteps. (7.62MM) Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. 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. 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. The Army dictated that after 300 hours of flight time, each Loach go through a thorough inspection, but in practice such inspections were rare: Few Loaches survived to reach that mark. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. External load capacity was approximately 1,200 Lbs (550 kg), and transport capability 2 or 3 troops or cargo internally. 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. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. 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. 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. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. 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. The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the US Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. 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 Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. 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). 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. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. 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.. Hughes Tool Company Aircraft Division submitted their Model 369 to fill a US Army requirement for a Light Observation Helicopter capable of performing a number of secondary duties including escort, attack and casualty evacuation duties. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. 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. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. 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. 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. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. 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. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. The observers and gunners had even less experience. loach | My Vietnam Experience The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. 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. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. 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. 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. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. 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. All Rights Reserved. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . [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. Book A Flight | In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Helicopter took 2 hits from: 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. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. [16], Early on in the OH-6's career, the type demonstrated its performance in a particularly prominent manner via the setting of 23 individual world records for helicopters during 1966 in the categories of speed, endurance and time to climb. 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). Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. During 1960, the United States Army issued Technical Specification 153 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) capable of fulfilling various roles on the battlefield, including personnel transport, escort, casualty evacuation, observation, and attack missions. 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. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. 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. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. [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 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. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. ). Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. Pilot sold separately. The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. Unit: 173 ABN Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. Your email address will not be published. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. 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. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. 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. 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 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. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By 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. 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). Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. Date: 02/08/1969 What was a loach helicopter? - Quora Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. South Vietnam 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. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Kiowas, largely relegated to low-threat cargo and liaison missions in Vietnam, were after the war tasked to spot targets from afar and guide Cobras (and later, Boeing AH-64 Apaches) to good firing spots. 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. 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. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter - YouTube The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. Unknown as to mission impact. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. 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. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. 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. Observation Helicopters 4. 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 Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website Table of Contents 1. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.com/Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact Preston Jones: pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488

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