Through researching the huey i have come across a some very interesting pictures of some of the other helicopters that were used during the Vietnam War. The huey seems to be the main focus of everyones attention (and rightly so [;)]) but the other helicopters do deserve a mention and a home on here for some of the more interesting shots or unusual armamant system configurations or artwork. If you come across any pictures that may be of interest regarding any of the other helicopters used in Vietnam, this could be the place to post them.
Any interesting or unusual info or shots regarding the OH-13, OH-6A, 0H-58A, H-34, AH-1G, CH-46/7, HH-3, HH-43, UH-2, CH-53, CH-54, Would be a great help to me and anyone else researching or building one of these models.
I will start things off with some of the shots i have come across.
This is a shot of the Company Commander of the 25th Aviation Battalion getting a feel for the Minigun (photo taken 1969)
Anyone ever seen a door mounted minigun on a loach??
You have now!
This next photo is one of my favorites, sorry no date or details, but i think the picture speaks for itself. A Loach armed with two M200 19 shot rocket pods and an M5 40mm grenade launcher!! No way !!
The last picture for now, is a helicopter in action shot.
Nothing unusual in the picture at first glance… until you realise whats going on.
This 0H-13 had been scouting due to reports of enemy in the area. Suddenly to the surprise of everybody, a VC recoilless rifle team came out of nowhere!! This shot was taken seconds after blues had jumped off the first huey to land in the LZ and seconds before they had to “deal” with the team!
You beat me to the punch on this thread. You should be aware that the OH-6 armed to the teeth with the M200 pods and M5 was done just as a what if shot. The bird couldn’t get off the ground with all that stuff on it! I know this configuration never flew because I rememeber the story on the unit web site. As I, like you, have visited many web sites, I can’t recall the specific unit, but I bet someone will point it out soon.
Sorry mate, i just keep coming across these great shots of other helos and dont have anywhere to post them. Im sure you have come across loads too. Seems a shame to let them go to waste.
I found it !! was just doing a search of M5s on 0H-6s and up it popped.
““OH-6G” 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. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the “OH-6G” was ready to take on anything. Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off.”
Thats a great shot! i never realised that they were used to drop those “Instant LZ” daisy cutter bombs. Ive only ever seen them being pushed out the back of C-130s, though i think they were the larger 15000lb bombs.
Trying to make out whats been written on the bomb…Something “headache” ?? are your eyes better than mine?
Do you know which Air Cav unit “Big Mother” would have been attached to? would it have been the 15th Supply and Service Battalion? or the 15th Transportation Battalion?? i have no idea when it comes down to CH-54/A’s.
Hey Andy. I’ve got that same picture in a pictorial history of the air war in Vietnam.
In that time era, of which I was a part (telling my age), there was a commercial on television for Excedrin pain reliever. They used the lead in line “Excedrin headache #3 or 8 or whatever” then they would show something half-a$$ed humorous, like a kid banging cymbals or something of that nature. That is what is written on the bomb, “Excedrin Headache #10,003” as this was the third 10,000 pounder dropped by “Big Mother”.
I remember seeing skycranes flying through our area when I was in high school. Impressive sight back then especially when they had a pod or carrying some load.
Thanks for putting the “excedrin” thing to bed for me, i would never have got it. You have saved me from pulling any more contorted faces at the monitor trying to work out what it said[tup].
ikar01,
I hadnt forgot the HH-43 Husky, Check the list [:)].
Chief Snake,
Thanks for the 478th HHC info, Any rough idea on how many 478th cranes would be in use with 15th Trans Bn at any one time?
Ray,
Great OH-13 shots and info. I agree it would be nice to see some unusual Seasprite pics.
Rich,
I dont have many cool shots of Skycranes but i found another shot of GrandadJohn’s “Big Mother” with that bomb [:)]
Jon,
Cant wait to see your Cobra pics. As ever, im always hunting for new helicopter video sites. Pictures are great but its nice to see the helos in action. I found another site and its got a clip of a Cobra becoming a victim of “Brownout” you also get to see the cockpit windows being blown out for the crew to escape! thought you might be interested.
