loach helicopter vietnam

Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. 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. 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 Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 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. | The following text is exclusive to this site. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. Adopted after. The Model 369 had a distinctive teardrop-shaped fuselage that had strong crashworthiness properties and provided excellent external visibility. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. The Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter as a primary attack helicopter in the Vietnam War for aerial assaults or as air cavalry. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. After around 10 hours at the controls of a Loach, the pilots were deemed worthy of flying in combat. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. 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. . Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. [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. Books/Magazines The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. 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. [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. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. 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. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. The U.S. Marine Corps still flies AH-1 SuperCobras as its main attack helicopter, with the latest versionthe AH-1Z Viper so upgraded and modernized that a Vietnam-era pilot might be hard-pressed to recognize it. Click on the hotlinks for more information. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Disclaimer Photographs Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. 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. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. A.J. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. s/n 66-07841. They chose the OH-6A scout helicopter to fill that role, and it became known as the Little Bird compared to the other aircraft in the task force, the MH-60 and the MH-47. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 The helicopter Continued Flight. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. Required fields are marked *. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. 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. Cookie Settings, pilot. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). The Mojave is a large heavy-lift helicopter that was deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965 to assist in recovery of downed US aircraft, but it proved ineffective. 2 Stinger AAM. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. 2 Hellfire ATGM The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. 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. Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. It never flew again. [22], Following the April 1980 failure of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of American hostages in Tehran), it was determined that the military lacked aircraft and crews who were trained and prepared to perform special operations missions. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. [4] The prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they competed against the other ten prototype aircraft produced by Bell and Fairchild-Hiller. 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. 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. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. 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. Casualties = 01 WIA . [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. 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. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. 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. That was about it.. It was pretty hairy, and we got the hell out of there. But Boucher got a rush from the missions, and stayed six months beyond what was required of a draftee. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft The Seasprite was an anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter that had over-the-horizon targeting facilities. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 Armament which many are taken will be available from our shop to Terms of Use contact us here and we will remove the The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) Helicopter took 2 hits from: The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. During 1967, following price escalations for the OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened the programme to bids for as many as 2,700 additional airframes beyond the 1,300 OH-6s already contracted. I could see a cigarette butt still burning. It was used to look for and find the VC/NVA troops in Vietnam. It was the same for Jim. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 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. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. Advertising Notice Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. [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. [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Logan Nye Updated December 07, 2022 09:30:25 While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. 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. This was a Combat incident. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 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 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. 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. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. I spent more time with them.. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. Privacy Statement While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. 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. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. 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. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Home | 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. purchase. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. 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.

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