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! The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. 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 task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. But the Vietnam War was unlike any previous American conflict; there were few real definable frontlines, and combatants needed to know what was happening all around them, all the time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. The helicopter Continued Flight. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". 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. 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. Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. 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. Your Privacy Rights Built by Hughes Tool Company, it was designed to be a scout helicopter during the Vietnam war. Possible mast-mounted sight. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH which many are taken will be available from our shop to His three tours to Vietnam included death-defying scouting missions piloting his Hughes OH-6 light observation helicopter (or Loach) as well as gunship runs inside his AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.. Cozzalio was also involved in nine aircraft mishaps; he was shot down six times and suffered three hard landings. 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. Setting 23 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, the Hughes Tool Company OH-6 entered service in September of 1966. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: The helicopter was hit in the Left Side I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. The observers and gunners had even less experience. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. The AH-6 and its troop-carrying sibling, the MH-6, are still heavily used by U.S. special-operations forces, as everything from airborne sniper platforms to transports inserting small teams to expeditionary light attack helicopters. Your email address will not be published. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. It had no hydraulic system and its electrical setup was used primarily to start up the enginesimple even by 1960s standards, which for practical purposes meant it was easier to maintain and harder to shoot down than other helicopters. 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 prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. 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. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods 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. 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. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. We operated from fixed bases that were islands, if you will, of allied control, says Hugh Mills, who flew both Loaches and Cobras in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, and went on to fly helicopters for the Kansas City Police Department. 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. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) 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. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. 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. 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. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. 2 Hellfire ATGM 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. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. South Vietnam The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. 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. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade: Jan 70 May 70 Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. 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. contact us here and we will remove the The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. It could accomplish missions that bigger, slower and louder helicopters couldnt do. 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. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER 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. Date: 03/25/1970 Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. 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. Each time we went out, we got shot at. I followed footsteps. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones.