Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. This aspect was further bolstered by the use of self-sealing fuel tanks that lowered the likelihood of a post-impact fire breaking out. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. 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 Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. Vietnams mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat. Click on the hotlinks for more information. The Little Birds weaponry is a far cry from the M60 machine gun carried aboard a Loach in Vietnam: AH-6s can carry miniguns, rocket pods, grenade launchers, Hellfire missiles, and air-to-air Stinger missiles. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. 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. [23][22] Such a team would have normally comprised a single OH-6 that would fly relatively slow and at a low altitude while attempting to spot the presence of enemies. Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. 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. We were combat trackers, says Mills. 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. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. 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.. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. 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. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. The small "egg-shaped" design and simplified rotorhead incorporated four rotor blades of constant chord, made of bonded light alloy. Cookie Settings, pilot. We got into another aircraft and went back out. History. 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. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 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. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. 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. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. 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. Cobras rolled in and blew the downed aircraft uptaking with it about 15 bad guys standing around it.. The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. It would often be crewed by a pilot and an observer; up to five passengers or up to 1,000lb of cargo could be carried internally. Helicopter took 2 hits from: [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. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. It was mostly used as a transport chopper, but it could also deliver supplies to troops. 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. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. 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. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine 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. Each could be equipped with any number of armaments, including grenade launchers, 7.62 mm miniguns, Hydra 70 mm unguided rockets, and TOW and Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. This simple design made maintenance easy, while the choppers 26-foot rotor made it much easier to maneuver in tight landing zones. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. (7.62MM) 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. Disclaimer Photographs Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Its cockpit teems with electronics and sensors, and its stub wings are heavy with heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided Hellfires, rockets (like those used in Vietnam), and even fuel-filled drop tanks. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. On the night of 5-6 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. The AH-1J SeaCobra was used later in the later stages of the Vietnam war. 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. Four troop-carrying Hueys (called a Blue Team) often sat idle somewhere nearby, ready to insert troops if the Pink Team discovered an interesting targetor were shot down and needed rescuing. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. The Cobra was fast and deadly. 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 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.