ISLAMABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2012— -- A NATO helicopter crashed today in Eastern Afghanistan, killing two U.S. troops, the third time in 10 days that a coalition helicopter has come down. The OH-58A Kiowa is a 4-place observation helicopter. ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. The pilot with her mirrored visor down, flightsuit zipper zipped down to reveal her pretty bra & cleavage smiled and handed him the photos. Two months later, on 17 August 1969, the first production OH-58A Kiowa helicopters were arriving in South Vietnam, accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team (NETT) from the Army and Bell Helicopters. According to a report in the Huntsville Times, on Sept. 8, 2009, Benson and Stead were supporting a group of Marines pinned down near a small village in the Shuryak Valley of eastern Afghanistan. Three separate times, Wells used his aircraft as a shield so that the downed aircrew could reach safety. Knowing the insurgents could not resist targeting and attacking a helicopter, Benson and Stead used their Kiowa Warrior as a deterrent to distract the combatants from targeting the medevac operation. These two stories highlight the creative and gutsy ways pilots have used the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior in recent conflicts and pilots largely revel in that reputation. An aviator with 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Saber, flies a OH-58 Kiowa helicopter during a reconnaissance mission in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 9, 2013.U.S. Death from above! that chop chop chop sounds makes my heart race – freedom coming in hot ! Well honey I FUCKED SHIT UP! Chief Warrant Officer 4 Patrick Benson and his co-pilot Chief Warrant Officer 3 Adam Stead are two extraordinary examples of how scout pilots have used their aircraft as a deterrent to help ground troops. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thanks!Happy Thanksgiving ☀️☀️, Good video. Dubbed the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, the aircraft was given substantial upgrades including its most distinguishing feature, a sight ball on top of the aircraft called the mast mounted sight. They looked between their feet and out the door of the aircraft to find and suppress enemy combatants. Sometimes the two crew were women. In the early 1970s, the Army tried to replace the OH-58 again since it needed an aircraft with more power in higher density altitudes and higher temperatures. The OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and its aircrews have distinguished themselves in an underfunded and underpowered aircraft not because of great technology or available engine power, but by their ability to fight in an unpredictable yet effective manner. All rights reserved. Love the Air Cav! From the ISAF press release: The OH-58 Kiowa was never the U.S. Army’s first choice in a scout aircraft, yet the helicopter, its pilots, and its mechanics have proven to be an unstoppable force in modern air cavalry tactics. Two US soldiers were killed in the shootdown of the $5 million aircraft. Since the OH-58D would now do most of its hiding at low levels of flight, the aircraft was also mounted with a Wire Strike Protection System at the front of the aircraft, becoming the first Army aircraft outfitted with such protection. OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Combat Footage in Afghanistan 08-09. Mike MacLeod. Stead was hit by small arms fire and incapacitated, but Benson kept the suppression mission going until all wounded Marines were hoisted into the UH-60. Your email address will not be published. Soldiers hover in an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter during a training exercise at Fort Riley, Kan., on Nov. 15, 2012. A UH-60 Black Hawk had been called in to medevac several wounded Marines. An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter with Task Force Saber, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, flies past the setting sun outside Al Asad Air … The aircraft has always been the stepchild of Army aviation, but when the chips are down, the aircraft and its crew are there with little regard to their own personal safety. Although the Kiowa production contract replaced the LOH contract with Hughes, the OH-58A did not aut… By being mounted on top of the aircraft, the OH-58D could sink behind trees and other obstacles, showing just its sight to find potential targets. See more ideas about Kiowa, Helicopter, Military helicopter. While both aircraft certainly have intelligent and capable operators, the loss of the OH-58 signals the loss of personal grit in aviation. After adding additional cargo space, renaming the YOH-4 the Bell 206A Jet Ranger, and underbidding Hughes in a follow-up contract battle, the Army acquired the OH-58 as its scout aircraft. 136007. In fact, the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was the overall choice as the future scout aircraft for the Army. Only young officers could get away with that. The painting, unveiled following his comments, was dedicated to Morgan's team by Bell Helicopter, which manufactured the Army's fleet of Kiowa helicopters. One of only a few women to fly the Kiowa Warrior helicopter—whose mission, armed reconnaissance, required its pilots to stay low and fly fast, perilously close to the fight—Smith deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the elite 2-17 Cavalry Regiment, part of the legendary 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles. -- When Soldiers needed to replicate a key part of an OH-58D Kiowa helicopter to return it to duty, they turned to the expertise of a … The aircrew was trying to extract themselves from an overturned helicopter with dozens of enemy troops closing in. September 15: Six USMC VMA-211 AV-8B Harrier II fighter jets were destroyed and two damaged beyond repair while parked on the ground during an attack on Camp Bastion. These included the Army's entire fleet of 187 TH-67 Creek primary trainers and the roughly 340 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scout helicopters that performed so brilliantly in Iraq and Afghanistan. /a> OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Combat Footage in Afghanistan 08-09 - Military Sacrifice Skip to content Kiowa . This year’s defense budget designated that the entire Army fleet of OH-58s be retired. He had a huge grin on his face. Brand New. He told me they landed, he ran up to get the info. The OH-58D has faced negative perceptions about its capability throughout its history and once again, the naysayers were fooled. OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scout helicopters operating over Afghanistan, 2012. Kiowas did CAS for us once upon getting ambushed. Required fields are marked *. © 2020 Brookline Media. Certainly the higher-density altitude in Afghanistan caused complications for the underpowered, single-engine helicopter, but that did not stop the OH 58D from acts completing of extreme courage. Looks like a hell of a lot of fun! From United States +C $32.91 shipping. In 1960, the official search for a reliable scout aircraft began and after several years, the OH-58, then called the Bell YOH-4, was the definitive loser. Hoooaaa! Army Photo by Cpl. The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter (Vietnam footage), Your Ship in Action – Color, U.S. Navy Heavy Cruiser in the Pacific, World War II 20360 HD, BRITISH FLEET IN ACTION IN PACIFIC – SOUND, French Military Operation in Mali – Combat Footage (Operation Barkhane and Serval), Vietnam War documentary – 220303-12 | Footage Farm Ltd, Vietnam Combat Footage: Operations Badger Tooth and Green, How the Japanese Carriers were so effective, 18+ Chechens Fighting in The Syrian Civil War – Close Urban Combat Footage | Syria War. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The helicopter, an observation and light-attack platform, is being used for the first time in the Jalalabad area of operations. An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter with Task Force Saber, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, flies past the setting sun outside Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, May 21, 2010.U.S. For all you military types, is part of your basic training learning to enjoy grungy early 2000s stripper music? The OH-58 has been used in every major deployment since the 1980s. variant or model. As the last OH-58 Kiowa Warrior is shrink wrapped and sent to the boneyard, remember how sometimes the seemingly smallest and weakest fighter is the one we should prepare for. Benson was also hit by a AK-47 round in the leg, but continued engaging the enemy until everyone was loaded. Made my day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This grit is what makes the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior a unique, effective aircraft and its pilots, though crazy, bold and mission-focused. For his actions, Wells earned the Silver Star. Lacy and Fleckenstein, flying a pair of OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, small armed-reconnaissance helicopters, raced to the site of the attack. The Black Hawk was particularly vulnerable because it couldn’t land on the steep mountainside. They were looking for a fight. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. BELL 206 JETRANGER / LONGRANGER OH-58 KIOWA HELICOPTER 206-070-370-1 FITTING NEW. Major General John Norton, commanding general of the Army Aviation Materiel Command (AMCOM), received the first OH-58A Kiowa at a ceremony at Bell Helicopter's Fort Worth plant in May 1969. The rotor sound, rockets, and ambient noise is music enough…it lends a sense of reality only they can provide. When Congress did not approve the budget for the new scout helicopter, the Army settled in improving its existing fleet of OH-58s. Saved our bacon. What did you do in the Army Daddy? or Best Offer. I met a pathfinder lieutenant I knew returning from the HLZ one morning. The chopper was a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter. Even though he and his co-pilot also needed medical attention, Benson parked his aircraft at the nearest forward operating base, not at the medevac pad, but with the unit Humvees so he would not get in the way of the wounded Marines and the medical attention they needed. Fortunately, both pilots recovered from their injuries. George Welcome) Camera manufacturer: NIKON CORPORATION: Camera model The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is the latest model of the OH-58 Kiowa family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support developed by American company Bell Helicopters (now Bell Textron). Bravo Troop “Banshees” from 2-17 CAV in Afghanistan during 2008. Hughes fell behind in producing the necessary number of aircraft required by its contract, OH-58D was armed with the potential for a .50 caliber machine gun and 70mm hydra rockets, Wire Strike Protection System at the front of the aircraft, becoming the first Army aircraft outfitted with such protection, Aug. 8, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Task Force Out Front, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, According to a report in the Huntsville Times. May 22, 2020 - Explore Mac Grognard's board "Helos", followed by 307 people on Pinterest. During its Vietnam development, it was fitted with the M134 Minigun, a 7.62 mm electrically operated machine gun. He said he stood there with his mouth agape as they flew away. View Darisse Smith's articles. Customs services and international tracking provided. Bravo Troop "Banshees" from 2-17 CAV in Afghanistan during 2008. Jan 16, 2020 - Explore Roy Richards's board "OH-58 Kiowa/ Kiowa Warrior" on Pinterest. Advanced technology separates our scouts from the very personal fight for troops on the ground. The helicopter crashed in the middle of insurgent forces. At the time of the crash it was reported as being the eighth Afghan military helicopter crash in 2018. Despite heavy small arms fire, Wells flew over to the downed crew to check on their safety. No history of the Kiowa Warrior would be complete without mentioning its use in the most recent conflicts, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Also, don't forget the ladies, there was a female in C/S Banshee 69 who ended up flying CAS for a friend of mine close to FOB Hutal in May or June 08. The two Americans, who have not been named, were the only crew aboard the OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, according to a Defense Department official. The OH-58 Kiowa Warrior is the closest an aviator can get to boots on the ground, though we are never mistaken for whom we fly to support. The OH-58 Kiowa was never the U.S. Army’s first choice in a scout aircraft, yet the helicopter, its pilots, and... By Darisse Smith National Guard Kiowa Warriors were used for drug interception in the 1990s, called reconnaissance and Aerial interdiction detachments. Designer. This serial number is marked on an ex US Kiowa used as a training aide at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at CFB Borden, Ontario, seen in July 1994. 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron CH-136 Kiowa at Camp Wainwright in 1984.Photo via Wikimedia Commons. Clay Beyersdorfer. Benson was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Kiowa has two-place pilot seating, although the controls in the left seat are designed to be removed to carry a passenger up front. The captured Taliban commander has not been identified. May 20, 2020 - Explore Art Mullins's board "Mast Mounted Sight" on Pinterest. While receiving heavy small arms and RPG fire, Wells coordinated the downed aircrew’s extraction to friendly forces while firing upon enemy combatants even as his aircraft was under 200 feet. During Operation Prime Chance in early 1988, it was used along with the AH-6 and MH-6 SEABAT teams to escort oil tankers through the Persian Gulf. 2018. Army leadership decided to arm the OH-58 as well as improve its optics and avionics while also giving it a more powerful engine. Still enduring heavy fire, Wells executed two separate power-off autorotations as an attempt to land near the aircrew for self-extraction. They also flew low over our valley to provoke the talibs to shoot when they first got in theater. I know people give the AF shit as a running joke, but these service men and women doing strafing runs 20 feet off the ground in what basically amounts to a glass bubble must have nerves of steel. Your email address will not be published. Whilst the music steals some of that away. It hovered in the air as it hoisted wounded Marines one at a time, a sitting target for the enemy force around. Military Video Clips and Combat footage from around the world. I liked when the Apaches flew as my escort… (o_O). Airwolf was a far more effective aircraft. The mast mounted sight contained infrared, day and night vision as well as a laser range finder and designator. No offense to the 58 crews, but I always got a warm feeling when I would see an Apache show up for support. 080217-A-2913W-004 - OH-58 D Kiowa Warriors sit the flightline at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, as two more depart for a mission. These days, it seems you can’t get away... Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Please next time leave only the sounds of real life. Was flying beside one of those little birds in Afghanistan one time and the guy accidentally dropped his M4 out the hatch. Danger Close: My Epic Journey As a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan: Smith, Amber, Fulginiti, Rachel: 9781520044781: Books - Amazon.ca Coalition and Afghan special operations forces captured a Taliban commander who downed a US Army OH-58 Kiowa attack/scout helicopter in eastern Afghanistan on Sept. 5. See more ideas about Military helicopter, Helicopter, Military aircraft. We actually circled around to go retrieve it for him lol. Bell . Those crazy type-A cowgirl women pilots. I would like to see it used on antifa . TO PILOT: Any PKM encounter from the ground? It … September 21, 2015. In an e-mail, the Taliban claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter… August 5: A Canadian CH-47D Chinook was shot down in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. /a>, Don't know where the clips are from, but it was 2-17 out of Kandahar there in 08. basic designation. Great video! Helicopter PlaneMilitary HelicopterMilitary AircraftEarth Two82nd Airborne DivisionFort BraggVietnam WarMilitary HistoryUs Army OH-58D flyover The 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat … The Kiowa Warrior was used during the invasion of Panama, patrolling the demilitarized zone in Korea as well as operations in Haiti, Somalia, Desert Storm and Desert Shield. The first unit to use the OH-58D in Afghanistan was Task Force Out Front, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. It went down over Ghazni province. For the first few years of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, many aviation experts believed that the Kiowa Warrior could not fly in the high-density altitude of the Afghanistan mountains. A kiowa with two women pilots came to drop off recon photos to him. With no plans to replace it, the scout mission now shifts to the AH-64 Apache and unmanned aerial vehicles. 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Warrior reconnaissance helicopter very personal fight for troops on the steep mountainside were in... One of those little birds in Afghanistan during 2008 observation and light-attack platform, is of... Were fooled a Kiowa with two women pilots came to drop off recon photos to him the time the.