OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. 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. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. 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. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Unlike its troop-carrying ancestors, a Cobra was like a World War II fighter, says Jim Kane, who arrived in Vietnam fresh out of Purdue University. 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. Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter The Sea Knight is a medium left-tandem rotor helicopter used for transport. The mission training consisted of loading onto C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which would then transport them to forward staging areas over routes as long as 1,000 nautical miles (1,900km). The Kaman SH-2 could extend and increase both shipboard sensor and weapon abilities against different types of enemy units, including submarines, ships, and patrol craft with anti-ship missiles. Ultimate Soldier Air Cavalry OH-6 "Loach" Helicopter 1/6 Scale Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. 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. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. The Cobra was fast and deadly. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. Each time we went out, we got shot at. 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. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Most of our engagements [we] were 25 to 50 feet [away] when we opened up on [the Viet Cong], Mills continues. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. [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. 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. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. 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 helicopter was hit in the Cockpit In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. About Us | For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. The 1-245th AVN BN enlisted were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the aircraft. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) From the rear cockpit, the pilot fired rockets from launchers fixed to the stub wings on either side; the copilot in the front operated a chin turret that held a minigun and grenade launcher. 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. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. [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. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. 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. Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. 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. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). Book A Flight | MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter - YouTube Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Loach and Cobra crews lived together, and schedulers generally paired the teams with the partners they requested, though given the high turnover rate, that wasnt always possible. . 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. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. Anthony is our resident military expert who uses his experience to write about all aspects of flying in the military, including what it takes to become a pilot and serve your country. Cookie Settings, pilot. In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. Hughes OH-6 Cayuse - Wikipedia The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. The Loach helicopters used to transport personnel were given the designation MH-6, while the armed ones were dubbed the AH-6. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER 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 Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website article/image or apply full credit information. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Date: 02/08/1969 [2] Originally designated as the YHO-6A according to the Army's designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as the YOH-6A in 1962 when the Department of Defense created a joint designation system for all aircraft. It never flew again. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. 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. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. [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. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 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. Up against Fairchild Hiller, Hughes Tool Company purposely undervalued its cost estimates, earning the company favor and the contract. He recalls: 360 degrees around you was enemy territory, and the ability to work with American and [South Vietnamese] units on the ground really required aviation to be able to look eye to eye to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Loach-Cobra pairings were sent out more and more frequently, until their main role was to gather general intelligence rather than prepare landing zones. The Army initially ordered 1,438 Hughes Model 369s, designated by the Army as the OH-6A Cayuse helicopters. 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. In support of the Helicopter Flight Mechanics syllabus, the USNTPS operates surplus Army OH-6B Helicopters which were refurbished by the Army National Guard, Gulfport, Mississippi in 1991. Terms of Use The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. 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. Upon encountering enemy fire, Loaches were to leave immediately, dropping smoke grenades to mark the target so that within seconds, the Cobra could roll in. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. 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. Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the Loach helicopter, as it was better known, fast became the primary chopper flown in Vietnam. Observation Helicopters 4. But the Army decided that it would be more prudent to keep the unit in order to be prepared for future contingencies. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. which many are taken will be available from our shop to The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. The "loach" was the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) or OH-6A. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 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.
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