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. 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. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 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. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. 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]. 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. OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. 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. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. 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. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. contact us here and we will remove the While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. 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. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. 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. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. 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 United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Wikipedia 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. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. South Vietnam Required fields are marked *. . Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. I had another lead that went through 150 feet of trees, and they survived., Shafer himself had brushes with disaster, and his luck nearly ran out on a mission west of Dak To, near the border with Laos. 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 prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. President As we navigate rapidly evolving military culture and Like any deployed troops, Russian soldiers make calls Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! 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. Over time, the effectiveness of this pairing was such that enemies would often decide against firing on the relatively vulnerable OH-1 in fear of the response that would be unleased by the AH-1. "Pink teams" of scout and attack helicopters, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the Vietnam War; In anti-submarine warfare an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as destroyers as killers. 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. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. FAQ | I have come home with blood on my windshield. 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. 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. Disclaimer Photographs A.J. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. 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. 2 Stinger AAM. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Terms of Use Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. This was a Combat incident. Observation Helicopters 4. 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 Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. Light Attack Helicopters 3. Unknown as to mission impact. 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). [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. [19][20][21], In December 1967, the first OH-6As arrived in Vietnam. 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. 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. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. Your email address will not be published. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. 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. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Possible mast-mounted sight. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) - Military Factory 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. Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter 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-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. 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. While its light aluminum skin could be easily penetrated by small arms fire, it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash while the rugged structure protected key systems and its crew; even though the OH-6 was relatively difficult to shoot down, its occupants would often survive forced landings that would have likely been fatal onboard other rotorcraft. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. With US Army evaluations of each prototype ongoing, the underpowered Bell offering was formally dropped from contention and the US Army decision favored the Hughes design over the Fairchild-Hiller. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 67-16304