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.. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. 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]. Even trampled grass was a clue; it meant that enemy troops had passed through the area within eight hours, the time it took for grass to dry upright. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. Helicopter took 1 hits from: 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. 2 .50 cal MG pods I have come home with blood on my windshield. 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. Adopted after. 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. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. 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. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. 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. The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. 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 CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. The observers and gunners had even less experience. 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. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH A little gory but thats how close we were. As the Loach flew among the trees, the rear-seat pilot in the Snake circling above kept a close eye on the little scout and the front-seat gunner jotted down whatever the Loach observers radioed. 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. The Raven was used as a scouting helicopter during the early phases of the war, before it was eventually replaced by the Cayuse in early 1986. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. which many are taken will be available from our shop to Fewer than 2,000 of the type were produced though the original went on to spawn a plethora of viable performers including the Hughes 500 "Defender" and the special forces-minded MH-6 "Little Bird". | READ MORE. Accordingly, the U.S. Army's fixed-wing airplane, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, which was utilized for artillery observation and reconnaissance flights, would be replaced by the incoming OH-6A. It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. 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 helicopter was hit in the Cockpit Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. 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. I tried to move the stuck controls and prayed for a place to set down. It took all of Kanes strength to pull out of a steep dive, and they crash-landed with a horrific thud. South Vietnam 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. 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. Shop | Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops in Vietnam. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! 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. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. 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. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. A.J. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. 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. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet medium twin-turbine helicopter. Advertising Notice 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. If you would like However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. 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. We thought they were ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] until they started running. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. Samantha Franco is a Freelance Content Writer who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Guelph, and her Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Western Ontario. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. The flames covered my boots and lower legs. 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. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. 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. A total of five prototypes were built, all of which were powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft engine, capable of producing 252shp (188kW). The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. 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. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . [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. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. Although many were still teenagers, their survival depended on well-honed instincts and razor-sharp reflexes, along with plenty of luck. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. ", FAI Record ID #11656 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance over a closed circuit without landing, FAI Record ID #11655 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance without landing, Obituary: Robert G. Ferry; Air Force veteran was record-setting test pilot, "In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close", "Jane's Aircraft Upgrades, MD Helicopters (Hughes) Model 500 (Military Versions)", "Dominican Republic Air Force Unit History", "Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force OH-6J", "Breda Nardi Hughes NH.500M in Armed Forces of Malta service", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hughes_OH-6_Cayuse&oldid=1133333304, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 07:46. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). Vietnam OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Nate Shaffer has restored a Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopter. It never flew again. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. Thats why the majority of pilots who served in Vietnam shared the opinion that, if you were going to crash, it was best to do it in a Loach. [27] During June 1972, they were deployed to a secret base in southern Laos (PS-44), where one of the helicopters was heavily damaged during a training mission late in the summer. Pilot sold separately. The Cayuse . Click on the hotlinks for more information. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Russian soldiers calls back home reveal horrifying experiences in Ukraine, broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen, could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times, modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008, 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms. Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts.

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