loach helicopter vietnam

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. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. A.J. 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. This eventually gave way to the loach nickname, and was intended to provide the US military with a light-class, rotary-wing craft that could fulfill a number of purposes: search and rescue, close air support, MEDEVAC, observation, transport, reconnaissance and attack roles. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. 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. purchase. Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) We were combat trackers, says Mills. In August 1967, the AH-1G Cobra arrived in Vietnam. 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. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. 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. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Army troops called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of light observation helicopters. The ship was unusually light and had plenty of power, perfect for flying nap-of-the-earth missions, and its 26-foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". It was the same for Jim. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. 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. 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. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. Provision for packaged armament on port side, including an XM-27 7.62mm (0.300in) machine-gun with 2,000 - 4,000 rounds of ammunition; or an XM-75 grenade launcher, Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Task Force 160, List of military aircraft of the United States, Hearings on military posture and H.R. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher 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. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. 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. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. Observation Helicopters Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. 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. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 South Vietnam Armament Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. 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. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. 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. 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. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. Possible mast-mounted sight. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. [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. All Rights Reserved. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. The 1-245th AVN BN enlisted were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the aircraft. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. 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. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. Pilot sold separately. Cookie Policy 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. Contact | The observers and gunners had even less experience. Lt. Col. [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. contact us here and we will remove the [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. Las mejores ofertas para Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp (ingls) Paperb estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. 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. 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. 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. Since units were all but permanently assigned to particular areas, they came to know the local geography intimately and could spot anything out of the ordinary. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. 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 Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. 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. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. 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. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. Adopted after. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. 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 "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. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. 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. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. The Cayuse . Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes.

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