The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. 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. 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. loach | My Vietnam Experience Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) 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. Systems damaged were: COMM SYS, STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENTS, PERSONNEL These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. The OH-6 Cayuse was developed from specifications issued by the U.S. Army in 1960 for a light observation helicopter (LOH), and the familiar Loach nickname was derived from the acronym. 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon South Vietnam In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. Date: 02/08/1969 During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. The helicopter Continued Flight. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". [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. 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). 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. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: [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. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . Armament I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. 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. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. 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. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. 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. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 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. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. 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. 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. The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) Your email address will not be published. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. 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. 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. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. 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. Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. Cookie Settings, pilot. 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. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. 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. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. 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. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War Date: 03/25/1970 It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | Military Wiki | Fandom 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). The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. 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. 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 A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. Book A Flight | As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. 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. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. 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. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter - MILITARY TODAY All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). About Us | Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. Can include a combination of the following across two fuselage wingstubs (though some weapons operated from cabin doors): (Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above), Hardpoint Mountings: 2 (if wingstub equipped). We were combat trackers, says Mills. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Vietnams mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. The Incident - Operation Triumphus It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas Possible mast-mounted sight. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. 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. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. 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. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. 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 Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. [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. s/n 66-07841. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. 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. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. 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. 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. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. article/image or apply full credit information. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN I have come home with blood on my windshield. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 2 Stinger AAM. 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. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. What was a loach helicopter? - Quora
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