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The helicopter Continued Flight. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). 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. 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. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. Kane and Casher were pulled aboard and returned to Khe Sanh, but the Huey barely made it back; slicing trees had left its blades shredded, and the tail section had almost separated. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. Also: LNOF, 90119, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. 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. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. 2 .50 cal MG pods The Hughes OH-6 "Cayuse" (popularly recognized as the "Loach") was a revolutionary light helicopter mount primarily in service with the United States Army and saw combat service during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The Cayuse (white) was used alongside the AH-1 Cobra (red) attack helicopters, forming (pink) hunter killer teams. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. They went down in the jungle, and both [members of the crew] survived. Within that same year, help was on the way. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. 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. Books/Magazines (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) With all these benefits, several variations were developed. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. 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 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). 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. I got shot down on my 22nd birthday, March 27, 1971. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . Cobra Gunship, Huey and Loach OH-6 Members of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry dedicated an OH-6 Loach Scout helicopter flown by their unit during the Vietnam War Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 Unknown as to mission impact. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. If you would like [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. Krausz was ordered to Vietnam in April 1971, and today teaches Army students how to fly the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota, a twin-engine trainer. 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. We flew down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, he says of the supply route that wound through Vietnam and neighboring Laos and Cambodia. 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. 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. 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. [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. FAQ | By Richard Toops. The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. This teamwork was actively encouraged by Army officials, and led to the development of so-called "hunter-killer" tactics that sought to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets. 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. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. [4] The prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they competed against the other ten prototype aircraft produced by Bell and Fairchild-Hiller. 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. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. A.J. 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. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. The four-passenger teardrop shaped "Flying egg" (six-passenger with rear seats folded-down) was a small, light, sturdy, maneuverable helicopter, with very low drag. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. An inventive Bell Helicopter engineer was already at work on the worlds first attack helicopter, and Bells decision to keep the project hidden until complete let the model slip into service as a Huey derivative (see The Birth of the Cobra, Aug. 2017). The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) trains and graduates qualified engineering test pilots, flight test officers, and flight test engineers to conduct test and evaluation (T & E) at the Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) Patuxent River Maryland and other activities. We got hit by incendiary .51-caliber rounds, and the phosphorus ignited the Cobras hydraulic fluid. The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. 2 Hellfire ATGM These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. Light Attack Helicopters 3. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident. Unit: DIR SUP / TRAN Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. Heavy Attack Helicopters 2. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft were returned to the U.S., where they were dismantled and converted back to a standard configuration; they continued to be operated as such for a time. [28][29], The pilots selected to fly the OH-6A helicopters came from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion and 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 rotorcraft. Advertising Notice It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. . I followed footsteps. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. But the light aluminum skin could be easily pierced by rifle bullets, and it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash, and a strong structural truss protected critical systemslike the people inside. 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. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. That was about it.. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. Furthermore, a number of civilian customers also flew Kawasaki-built OH-6s for a variety of missions, including emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, and agricultural work. 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. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. In one particular clandestine incident in 1972, known as the Vinh wiretap, a pair of OH-6As were heavily modified and used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America was used to infiltrate Vietnamese high level communications, providing valuable intelligence. (7.62MM) [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (nicknamed "Loach", after the requirement acronym LOHLight Observation Helicopter) is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. The hunter-killer tactic worked well for a few years, but by the time the United States left Vietnam, it was obsolete, says Mills. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 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. During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). 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. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) An Army article written after Johns seventh crash credited it with surviving 61 hits from enemy fire and seven crashes without losing a single crew member. I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The Sea Stallion is a line of heavy-lift transport helicopters. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. "Pink teams" of scout and attack helicopters, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the Vietnam War; In anti-submarine warfare an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as destroyers as killers. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. The Loach-derived MD-500 and other civilian variants still roll off the assembly lines at MD Helicopters, Inc., while Boeing produces an upgraded variant, the AH-6 Little Bird, for military forces (including an autonomous drone version). The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. Flight Hours in Vietnam: 1,318 [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. You were killed, shot down, or got scared and quit. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. Despite a strong outcry from crews in Vietnam, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa, powered by the same Allison T-63 engine as the OH-6, was being distributed to Army units. Lt. Col. I still have scars on my legsit was terrifying. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. 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. Both the Pilot and Observer/Gunner positions were equipped with carbon fiber side panels and seats. 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. History | 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. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. Your email address will not be published. The UH-1B/C was used sparingly during the Vietnam War. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. Pilot sold separately. 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. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Following the Second World War, significant advancements were made in the field of rotary-wing flight. Each time we went out, we got shot at. The Korean War proved the necessity for such rotorcraft, particularly in regard to search and rescue operations. OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. Armament https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.com/Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact Preston Jones: pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488 It never flew again. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. 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. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. These hunter-killer missions, among the most hazardous of the Vietnam War, tested the resolve of the OH-6 pilots and the aerial observers sitting beside them. In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. Unit: 173 ABN We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. Its like a street cop going into a bad neighborhood. 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". The OH-6A replaced the Korean era OH-13 Sioux and OH-23 Raven light observation helicopters. Sensing its growing battlefield requirements, the US Army then raised the production ceiling to 1,300 units in all. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). 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. 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. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. 608th Transportation Company (Aircraft Direct Support): Mar 72 to voice a complaint about any articles or image on this website, please Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Required fields are marked *. The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. 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. The Huey descended gingerly into a clearing smaller than its main rotor diameter, the aircrafts rotor blades chopping tree limbs as it descended. 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. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Your Privacy Rights Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. South Vietnam AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. The architects of the task force identified the need for a small helicopter to land in the most restrictive locations and that was also easily transported on Air Force transport aircraft. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter (LOH). In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Shaffer, 63, rode in the military helicopter as a door gunner with Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cavalry while . [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail.