Warbird Information Exchange

I am the proud owner of a still flying, now standard cat, OH-6 serial # 65-12965. I am researching the history it. I have found many web sites that have listings of serial numbers, but none match mine.

I believe it has combat history and there also look to be several (3 or 4) possible bullet hole patches in the sheet metal. They are in the middle of panels not near any ribs. They start with one in the door pillar and go back along the left side of the ship. They have all been neatly patched. I can also tell that at one time in it's life, it was armored. I would like to try to find out more history on the helicopter.

Here is what is contained within the logbooks that lead me to believe that it has seen combat.

In May of 71 it says the aircraft went through "Standards of serviceability required for Transfer to a Theater of Combat Operations".

Then there is a hand written entry dated Oct 11 71. It says "Aircraft reassembled, test flown and released for flight". I would guess this is where it was shipped over, resembled and entered combat.

The next entry is a little over a year later. It is neatly typed and says. "Entered by Dir for Quality Control, Sharpe Army Depot, Lathrop California. This is a serviceable aircraft transfer. Aircraft has been processed through project extend program depot inspection, but is not an overhauled aircraft...."

So it looks like it ended up back in California with a little over a year in combat. There are no records for the ship during that year, but from the hobbs readings it looks like it flew about 250hrs in that time.

I would very much appreciate anyone that could help me gather information on the ship. Thank you in advance!

I don't have an entry for your a/c in our OH-6 Registry unfortunately (http://www.warbirdregistry.org/heloregi ... istry.html) but any picts or info you care to contribute would be welcome and can be sent to

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Found an interesting listing of that serial in the following web site:

http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/

(main page), and

http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/index.php?location=2809

The site indicates it was "demobbed" in Europe while assigned to the US Army. No date or other specs given.

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Bob

Old Sar Pilot

It did live for about 1.5 years in Ireland. It was owned by a private owner.

Basically from about 74-94 it was a nat guard ship in Rochester Ny. A Co. 1-142nd

From there, it was taken into standard cat and then operated by a sherrifs dept out of Oregon. (I know that they did not have to get it certified standard cat....but that is what they did.)

The sherrifs dept got rid of the ship and it went to a guy named Randy Rogers of "Trafficopters". He deals in Hughes helicopters and can be found on the web. He sold it to an owner in Ireland. From Ireland it came back to Randy when the owner upgraded to a "D" model. Randy then sold it to a gentleman in Fla. I then purchased it from the guy in Fla almost a year ago.

So there you have it.... I have VERY detailed records of the ship, including flight sheets for every flight, from the guard forward 30+ years.

The only information that is not complete is the 1 year in late 71 and aprox 250 hours where it says it was "moved to combat theater of operations".

Scott,

I will send over a few pics.

The Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association sells a CD that claims to have the history of every helicopter that served in Vietnam. I don't know if it does or not but every one I've looked for has been there.

http://www.vhpa.org/cdrom.htm

James

Thanks James

Any chance you can take a peek and see if my ship is listed in there? I would be happy to purchase the disk if it has any info. It sounds like you already have it. If you would not mind taking a look, let me know.

Thanks

Thanks to all for the help in finding out the history of my ship. It most definitely was in Vietnam and suffered battle damage on two occasions. Looks like it flew over 1000 hours in combat.

It served with D/3/5 CAV called the War Wagons. I have been in contact with members that maintain their website and they have been very helpful. Here is thier website:

http://www.lighthorseaircav.com/

Maybe I'll be able to catch up with them sometime and let them take it for a spin! Out of about 80 ships in their unit they know of about 4 or 5 still flying (including mine).

Thanks again to those that helped out