2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. 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. FAQ | Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. South Vietnam A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). 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. 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. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. 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). The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats.
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. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. Cookie Settings, pilot. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. All Rights Reserved. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. If you would like Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. | READ MORE. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. History | The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. This was a Combat incident. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. 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. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. 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. 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. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. 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. 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. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. [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. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. Pilot sold separately. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 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. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for.
Hunter-killer team - Wikipedia More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes.
The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 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. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers.
Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 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 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. [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. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. Furthermore, the helicopter was also developed into a civilian helicopter, the Model 500, which was still in production into the twenty-first century under MD Helicopters as the MD 500. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. Scout pilots were a different breed of cat, says Cobra pilot Jim Kane, who likens his former colleagues to the airborne equivalent of the Tunnel Rats, soldiers who crawled head-first into Viet Cong-built tunnels without any idea what awaited them there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable. article/image or apply full credit information. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. This chopper is mostly known for having been used to spot enemy artillery. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. Stepping away from her academic career, Samantha previously worked as a Heritage Researcher and now writes content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. 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 hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. The helicopter Continued Flight. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Radiomen in the Vietnam War faced a 5-second life expectancy 5 cringeworthy military slang terms (that we should actually retire) From nursing to newspapers, these were the women of Vietnam
Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter - YouTube During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams.
Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304 If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room.
A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. [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. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496
The Incident - Operation Triumphus [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. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 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. 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. This was a Combat incident.
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter - MILITARY TODAY One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. 2 Stinger AAM. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. 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 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. To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. Onboard UH1 Huey helicopter (SN 66-163-56) was Aircraft Commander, WO William H. Seaborn Jr., myself as . Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. We were combat trackers, says Mills. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com
Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. 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. [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. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. We got into another aircraft and went back out. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid.
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. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources.
Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds.