[12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). Home | Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. 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. Underneath, a fixed twin-skid undercarriage was supported at two separate points. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. During 1964, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a memorandum directing that all U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, while the U.S. Army transitioned to solely operating rotor-wing aircraft. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. We were combat trackers, says Mills. The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon The Cobras high above had a few seconds of warningthey could spot the missiles exhaust plumebut were all the more tempting because at their higher altitudes they were more easily seen than the smaller Loaches. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. Date: 03/25/1970 Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. 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. Book A Flight | There was one day of initial training, says Bob Moses, who was first trained as a tank crewman and then as infantry before a sudden transition to helicopter door gunner.