While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,400. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Helicopter took 1 hits from: These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. The helicopter made a Forced Landing. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Date: 03/25/1970 (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) That was about it.. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. OH-6 Loach - Light Observation Helicopter - Brickmania Toys 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. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! 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. Date: 02/08/1969 The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. 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. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. 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. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. It later turned out that Howard Hughes purposely undervalued his estimate and deceptively won out against Fairchild-Hiller - his reasoning being that a long-term US Army commitment to his helicopter would, over time, make the deal profitable at some point. This was a Combat incident. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. Since units were all but permanently assigned to particular areas, they came to know the local geography intimately and could spot anything out of the ordinary. The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. 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. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. We were combat trackers, says Mills. Vietnam Helicopters Museum - OH-6A "Cayuse" Helicopter s/n 66-07841 In August 1967, the AH-1G Cobra arrived in Vietnam. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. South Vietnam A.J. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. 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. 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. This helicopter was UNK On the night of 56 December 1972, the remaining helicopter deployed a wiretap near Vinh, Vietnam; useful information provided from this wiretap was acted on by the United States on several occasions, such as during the Linebacker II campaign and Paris Peace Talks. In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | Military Wiki | Fandom 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. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. [3], On 27 February 1963, the first Model 369 prototype performed its maiden flight. The "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. 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). It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Unit: 173 ABN ", 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. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy 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. 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. 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. 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. Cookie Policy Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. RMF3TG12 - Warren Motts, who started the Motts Military Museum, walks with a small child, past helicopters that where used in the Vietnam War. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. 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. 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". Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas I spent more time with them.. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down.