Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam

[@tomtin2001]

I was a young guy who in 1974 bought a Squadron/Signal Publications military book called "Gunslingers In Action". It was all about scout pilot LT Hugh Mills and his colleague Rod Willis and their service in Vietnam flying OH-6's and Cobras. It was a 8 X 11 booklet chock full of photos of about 50 pages that I absolutely devoured with each detail of their missions and exploits. It lit a fire in me and I got into ROTC, got commissioned and served for 21 years as an Infantry officer (1976-1997). Unfortunately, my eyesight wasn't good enough to get into flight school or to become a pilot. But I had great assignments in mostly mech infantry units (1st Cav, 2nd AD, 5th Mech) and retired a LTC. Low level Hell came out while I was serving and of course I got my copy and read it cover to cover in two days (pretty speedy for an Infantryman!). In my final weeks on active duty teaching at Fort Leavenworth, I was sitting at the medical clinic in the waiting room awaiting an appointment for my retirement physical. The person at the desk called the name of "LTC Willis" and this fellow in a suit got up and went through the doors into the clinic. It caught me off-guard as my mind tried to process what I'd just heard and "could that be the guy in the book?" They quickly called my name for my appointment and it suddenly hit me that it could have been Rod Willis. I let him get away without chasing him down and asking if he was the guy in Blackhorse. He would have probably panicked that some over amped Infantry LTC was chasing him down like a crazed groupie. I've kicked myself a thousand and one times for not catching him and telling him that he and Hugh Mills were a big reason for my being here having served 21 years and doing my best to lead Infantry soldiers. I also realized that Hugh Mills was living in the Kansas City area and I think was serving with the Jackson County Sheriff's office and their aviation department. I'm sorry that I haven't had the chance to meet these two heroes and thank them for their service during war and for inspiring me. I'm still awe-struck by these brave men (and all the other aviators who flew in Vietnam).

[@tomtin2001]

I still have that well-worn Squadron/Signal book....Gunslingers in Action.

[@sm1tty031]

I had that same book. In fact I drew the AH-1G and Hugh Mills Loach as a KID! I still have those books somewhere. Im talking like 35 years ago

[@cbroz7492]

..hespike to our IPMS chapter, Fl8ght 19. In Ft Lauderdale inches early 80s

[@mh53j]

Got my copy in 74; those guys in the startched jungle utilities and Stetsons were about the coolest soldiers I'd ever seen. I was prompted to buy the crappy Revell OH-6A and add some aftermarket decals for Mills' aircraft. Thank goodness Dragon came out with a better version with the appropriate decals and crew figures. Still have several tucked away.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

I have that book and Low Level Hell...

[@1SGPARKER]

It's great to see an old Vietnam friend, Hugh Mills. We were in C Troop (Air) 16th Cavalry in 1972 at Can Tho AAF. You already know what he did, I was a Crew Chief in a Huey that always flew the Command & Control spot.

[@indycharlie]

Bad time to be in country brother . I di di'd in 71 , and was a Blue medic ( lll Corp )who flew Chuck -Chuck sometimes ... Stay strong brother .. doc 70-71

[@baronvonwinkle1470]

Wish this was a longer interview. The man is a legend.

[@N-Scale]

I am so happy we had these guys !!!! Thanks for your service Hugh ! Mike Fifer

[@tackleberry357]

Hugh Mills, him and his colleagues are some of my heroes, I've read Low Level Hell several times and still love it!!!❤😊

[@alangeddes268]

I was out on the flight line one day when a LOACH pilot waved over. It was a bit gusty and he was sitting there skid lite. Had to get close to hear him as I did not have my flight helmet. Being light like he was a gust caused a skid to lift a couple of inches and then it landed on my toes. At least he bought me a drink later after his mission. I surely did love those little birds.

[@Firemandave911]

In memory of those that served!!!!! That was a wonderful video Chopper! Thank You!

[@STONEDARTphotos]

When you accepted you were dead but it just hadn't happened yet you could get on with business. Loach pilot 11th ACR, 1969.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

I’ve read his book, I can’t recommend it highly enough. I watched the war on TV in the sixties and seventies as a kid and finally as a fifty something I visited Vietnam and saw it from their perspective. What can I say - Politicians - who’d have ‘em……

[@timothyhopper8804]

That's my chopper, flew door gunner 68/69 with HHC 3rd Brigade 9th Infantry Division out of Tan An airfield. Here's to all those pilots that flew under call sign Merkin and helped me get out of there in one piece.

[@robertopp713]

Sorry folks. This may be long. I watched this entire interview with brave soldier and American hero Hugh Mills. His words are 100% true as a Loach pilot. My brother, Terry Opp from a small town outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota was a crew chief on a Loach from '69 - '70. He didn't talk much about Vietnam but when I got a few beer in him he would loosen up a bit. Here are some of his stories that he told me. He was with the 11th Armored Air Cavalry Division ( I can not absolutely confirm that as Division, Battalion, Regiment or whatever. I was never a military guy and I do not know the lingo.) that was stationed north of Saigon on the border of Cambodia in the "Parrot Head" or "Fish Hook" area because of the map reference he said. The only difference I heard in the two stories of being a Crew Chief on a Loach was that my brother never mentioned a door gunner. He was it. He had an M-60 hanging from a canvas strap on the left side of the ship. Later, just like Eric said, they put a mini gun on the side of the ship that the pilot controlled. My bother also mentioned loading ammo cans with as much C-4 as they could pack in it and kicking them out the door over suspected bad guys. He said he always prayed an enemy round would not hit one of the cans as they would have been instantly vaporized. He said his ships were shot down 7 times. I checked the serial numbers on the pics he had and sure enough the Army had them listed as decommissioned due to combat action. He also spoke of the hunter/killer teams. A small difference is that he said they would fly at around 130 knots on their first pass over a suspected bad guy location then come back around to try to draw fire. Once contact was made he would knock a flare off the side of his gun, de de mow, (sorry for not knowing Viet lingo) and call in the Cobras. Then go back low and slow to check for damages, bodies or to draw more fire. I've heard of shitty jobs before but this has to take the cake. He said his worst pucker moment was when he was told to check a valley that wasn't showing any enemy movement and the brass thought that was strange. So in they went on a first fly by and nothing. On their second slower trip through the valley he said the whole friggin place opened up on them from all sides. He said his pilot nosed down to get air speed then went straight up and basically saved both their lives. Not only did the Cobras come in but artillery went crazy for a few hours. They had stumbled onto a heavy NVA strong hold. Not only did Loaches do hunter/killer missions they also provided air support for resupply conveys and such. If there was an ambush they were there to lay down suppressing fire and to call in support if needed. My brother said it was always funny to hear 20 different voices yelling in 20 different accents from around the country. That's what makes us UNITED. My brother phoned home the Christmas he was there. Eric also mentioned this. The call came late at night. My mom came to wake me up, I was 7 at the time, and she said Terry wanted to make sure I was taking care of them. He talked to my dad for a while, then my mom then he spoke with me and said he would be home soon and to take care of mom and dad until he got back. Then there was a lot of static on the line and he said he had to go because the base was getting shelled. When my mom heard this she freaked right the hell out. I started bawling, my dad got this far off look in his eyes, (he was a CB vet in Okinawa), and well, that was that night. We heard from him about 4 weeks later. I don't know if the VC wanted to kill him more or my mom. My brother said his last pilot was this huge black guy that had to duck down and turn sideways to get through a doorway. He had to fold himself into the pilot seat. My brother said he was the best pilot he had but he was the worst shot to ever fire a gun. I guess the pilots used to put grease pen markers on the bubble screen ahead of them and use that as a reference to aim with. My brother said there was a B-52 strike going on a few miles away from where they were following a resupply convoy so when that was over they went to the strike area to check it out. The rooky pilot wanted to aim his guns so they found this dead NVA propped up against a tree on the far side of the blast area. He said the pilot made about 15 passes at this guy with guns blazing and didn't hit shit but he said he could fly like no ones business. They have been the best of friends since then. As far as lucky charms my brother had found a 4 leaf clover when he was younger and taped it to a little piece of cardboard and kept it in his wallet always. When I asked him about making it home alive he showed me that 4 leaf clover and said nothing could have happened to him while he carried that with him. I could go on and on about Vietnam stories from my brother, my friends and other family members but I don't need to. We all have them. Or should have. And it is still sad we do. Maybe one day our strength will really be our peace. One last thing as I have responded to the people that have made comments and of course they are all welcome. I have only repeated and told here the things that occurred to a 7 year old, a 15 year old, a 35 year old and a 50 year old that had an older brother in 'Nam and was an understandable listener to the shit that went on there and a respect for the people that served there. My brother was not a pilot in or on a Loach. He never claimed to be one nor did I claim he was one either. He was a Crew Chief that guided the daily missions and carried out those missions. His only flying skills, according to him, were trying to do an auto rotate moments before you hit the ground. To tell the truth I really don't think he could have flown a led zeppelin. And again I reiterate the stories I have convened here are the stories a big brother hero from that conflict decided to share with his much younger brother. I am so glad he shared them with me as I do not think he shared them with anyone else except his combat buddies. Now that he has passed, well, one less 'Nam American hero. I apologize for not doing the research into this prior to me conveying these stories. As I am writing this now the gentleman being interviewed here just said "my crew chief" and so on so apparently what my brother said was true as he claimed to be the crew chief and door gunner while he flew with a pilot on those missions. According to Wikipedia the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment aka the Black Horse Regiment operated in South Vietnam from '66 - '72. The air part of the regiment may have came in the late 60's when they added helicopter support and attack units. Again I only speculate with this observation. Once again I am only sharing bits and pieces of stories that my brother shared with me after several beer and a few shoe boxes full of polaroids taken in the late '60s some where in Vietnam.

[@paulwells2417]

No

[@davidzamora4423]

My buddy Ted Wells was door gunner for 3 tours of duty with the1/9th Air Cav. Thank God he came home in one piece!!

[@sparks2spare782]

Did he know a Marshall Smith from Arlington TX?? 1/9th 69-72. Mechanic, door gunner and Loach gunner. He’s my dad who passed in 1997 and been trying to find any guys he served with.

[@edwinthomas618]

Thank you for your service and flying a wonderful helicopter

[@MrBadgerx1]

My dad was loach crew chief in Vietnam. Got the privilege to see the same exact helicopter that he was a crew of in Vietnam a few years ago at an air show. It was amazing to see!

[@jesserivas1387]

Mr. Hugh Mills, sir you have always been my hero. Thank you for serving our great nation and welcome home!

[@rvnmedic1968]

Fantastic. Utmost respect, welcome home! My barracks was across the road from Hotel 3, Tan Son Nhut AB. I was an ER medic there from 68-69. CMSgt (Ret) Bob Powell

[@VictoryAviation]

Thanks so much for this fantastic content! Hats off to all those aviators that pulled off the unthinkable in Vietnam and those that died trying. What a mess of a war, but brave men kept going back in after their buddies to make sure they got back home.

[@MFHCRAFT]

Quel gâchis pour les vietnamiens aussi

[@johngriffiths118]

This guys book is an excellent read .highly recommended

[@greasyflight6609]

Good read...the real deal

[@rtta51]

Was with D Trp 2/17 101 ABN. Loved those things.

[@billwood1372]

An amazing book, I'm now reading it for the second time

[@charlie1571]

i remember seeing these guys fly in northern I Corps. Man they had balls!!

[@fastjet714]

awesome video, love flying the H500 such great memories.

[@psmith9789]

WO1 Alexander ("Al") Cameron Brown, Troop D, 3rd/4th Cav, down 23 Nov 69. Equipment failure. RIP.

[@indycharlie]

Nice !! I was a D Troop Blue . I plan to go to Fla. this year .

[@freeliteaz]

Thanks Bruce for putting up these stories.

[@ryanmoeller3308]

AWESOME fella!! That's such an AMAZING Helicopter!! Keep up the GREAT work good sir! Thanks for the AMAZING footage you put up for us to enjoy! Much respect and support from Yuma, AZ. 👍👍

[@cbroz7492]

Hugh has a book 8n the Squadron Shop "In Action " series...met himnin the early 80s when he spoke to our "Flight 19 IPMS chapter in Ft Lauderdale l....

[@i.r.wayright1457]

B-7-1, Vinh Long. 68-69. I have your book Hugh. The OH-6A was the most fun you can have sitting down.

[@christhirion9474]

What a wonderful read it was.

[@gotchagoing8843]

Lt Col Hugh Mills flew part of his second tour with D Trp. 3/5th Cav up on the DMZ. Then he was a snake driver until our unit stood down. I guess he went back to scouts in another unit. I flew my second tour in scouts, with D trp. 3/5th Cav. My avatar is me standing next to my ship, 962. The sling is still on it from being recovered after being shot down in Laos in mid dec-71. 962 is on display at the U.S.Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker Alabama, along with my scout scarf. Back then, I was the senior Scout Crew Chief. I had more time in country flying then any other Crew Chief in our unit.

[@CHOPPERGUYHD]

You rock brother. Welcome Home. Bruce

[@gotchagoing8843]

@@CHOPPERGUYHD Thanks brother. It was all in a days work. And when the recovery team came up to get my ship, they flew up a replacement and we went out again...but NOT back into Laos....whew. The DMZ and the Tri-border AO was bad enough for this kid...

[@robertmartinez1645]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Welcome home!

[@gotchagoing8843]

@@robertmartinez1645 Thank you.

[@HMASJervisBay]

My Dad, Australian Wo2 Bob Matthews of 161 recce flt Nui Dat71-72 met Jerry Boyle, WO, a Cobra pilot on RR in Oz. They became lifelong mates. Many great yarns were told to me over a few beers. I was Australian Navy gulf war 1990/91. One time Dad was on a stay over at Bearcat FB, and Jerry took him on one of many, many joy flights front seat. Dad loved it, however, whizzing around, the accompanying Loach was skimming the tree tops when the radio crackled 24 (Jerry's call sign was Sabre 24) hit the tree as smoke rose near the base of a colossal tree. Jerry said later they were at 5000 and, on the call, gave Dad a quick run around on the weapons in front of him. Dad said he puckered up good sweat running freely; after all, this was supposed to be fun, right. Anyways Jerry rolled the bird over, and down they went. Dad left his guts at 5000, and then he said he got pretty calm hearing Jerry natter to him easily in preparing to shoot. The tree seemed miles away but before you could say, Jack Robinson, this massive tree was almost on top of them when Jerry tells Dad to unload everything. Here's Dad pulling triggers pushing buttons as rockets, howling mini gun the lot gets spent. At treetop, Jerry yanks back and half inverted rolled out over the tree top Dad looking back, was amazed to see tens and tens of monkeys dropping to the forest floor. The Loach guys were hollering way to go, Bob, you nailed 'em. Flying back to Bearcat, Dad said he felt two feet high as the hunter-killer team took the piss all the way home. Sadly my Dad passed in 84 and Jerry a few years ago. Jerry wrote a great book on his 3 tours, and three silver stars called Apache Sunrise. Thanks for reading. Another time....

[@indycharlie]

Ask Bob if he knew J.P. Folks ( pilot ) out of BC 71 , he saved our asses one time .. doc / Blue / Grunt

[@StumpyVandal]

Very low key introduction of the guy that wrote the book on hunter killer tactics as well as being an exemplary example of leadership by a junior officer. This man’s a legend of combat, up there with any outstanding fighting man in modern warfare.

[@jompy151]

I've owned "Low Level Hell" for a few years and read it a couple of times , i'll be reading it again 👍 Such a well written easy to read and follow book that helps civies like me to get a slight grasp of what it was like in Vietnam doing such a dangerous job ! Excellent read 👏

[@markcollins919]

We were still flying Loachs in my ARNG back in the 80s. It was great flying these. Also Kuduz to the late LTC Ace Cozzalio who was the epitome of a Cav aviator.

[@bruceschulze7487]

You are a brave man, and you served our country well .

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Hats of to all helicopter Pilots who flew in Vietnam !

[@sandeewood2948]

I always thought that loch was a cool looking helicopter grew up in westchester California very close to Hughes aircraft factory use to see them testing the loch when they came off the assembly lines never paid much attention to them..than I was drafted in 1968 was a infantryman in the 25th infantry division saw the loches in Vietnam all the time…still today I see them flying around with our police department…one awesome looking little helicopter…

[@chucksix6231]

🇺🇸👍😎 Flew many times with 16th./ C troop .Mostly in C&C. ship with 13th. Battalion Commander Col. Edward Tolfa . " Guardian 6. " 71/72 They were the best ! 🇺🇸

[@conservativeokie]

Captain Hugh Mills, definitely one of the best ever!!!!

[@blave549]

great video, and it's great to see Mills flying again. Thanks.

[@darlenestout7548]

Awesome stories, thank you for your service.

[@jeffreypinder9398]

Great book.

[@ionhunter]

I flew a helicopter for the first time this year. it's a 1966 UH-1H that served time in Vietnam with the 240th AHC. And I'm addicted.

[@fredrich99]

I have read this book twice just on the last chapter . Great read

[@tylerbuckley4661]

I have always loved the y tail hueghs 500 aka the oh6A beautiful chopper

[@jamesrussell7760]

Hugh Mills - Vietnam scout pilot - wrote the book "Low Level Hell". I have the book, have read it twice. Great book, well written. Pretty damn exciting to see you, Hugh. You have put on a little weight since those days, but haven't we all. Did your buddy Rod Willis also make it back to the world?

[@andrewbergman9315]

As a friend of both I can say Rod is very much alive and well :)

[@sniffergoal]

I read his book a few years ago while laying on a sunbed on holiday in Gozo - what a fab read

[@TobinTwinsHockey]

I read Low Level Hell years after an Army recruiter did a terrible job selling me on the loach. While reading the book the lightbulb of regret went off that I chose a private sector career over jumping into one of these birds.

[@herbferguson]

Some other good books on the Air Cav are Mathew Brennan's Hunter-Killer Squadron, Brennan's War, and Headhunters.

[@allgood6760]

Cool vid!.. we use Hughes 500 for helicopter deer recovery in NZ... the thing is deer don't shoot back! 👍🇳🇿

[@TheOnlySgtRock]

I've read his book twice now. Good read.

[@vellocet2438]

Heli history. Instant subscription. Hell yeah!

[@jplumbob]

Awesome video.

[@jeremywallace5961]

OH6 or UH1...? Both are my favorite!

[@xfire7]

I`ve read that book . Top class read .

[@davidlagos9877]

Muy bien...el famoso Hugh Mills....lei sobre el en una publicacion de la revista Signal....me alegra saber que esta bien y que vuela...saludos Hugh....

[@nance2023]

my dad was a chopper guy 1/9th idrang valley scout pilot

[@1582len]

Outstanding

[@larry_ellison]

Well said at the end, you gotta joke around no matter what. Don't care if you're driving F1, building a house or fighting a war, there's times for serious shit, but the fun is what keeps you going longer than the rest

[@jeffyoung60]

Low flying and slow flying aircraft are particularly vulnerable to ground fire. You can reach about that dating all the way back to Pearl Harbor. On that December 7, 1941 day, Japanese pilots flying low and slow to be able to drop torpedoes or strafe U.S. battleships were easily targeted by U.S. shipboard sailors manning 0.50 caliber heavy machine guns and 20mm cannons. A number of Japanese planes thus got shot down. Decades later the U.S. Army helicopter pilots find themselves in similar vulnerable situations over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. From what I've read so far, the best thing for Army chopper pilots was to fly in fast, go low quick, maintain speed, shoot up the place and fly out as fast, being careful not to gain altitude too quick. Doing that slowed your aircraft and made you an easier target. Fly out fast, far away enough to be out of range of heavy machine gun fire, then gain altitude. Still, by the end of the American involvement in Vietnam at 1973, the U.S. Army lost a total of just over 3,000 helicopters of all types and models to all causes, combat loss and crashes. Almost 2,000 helicopter pilots lost their lives. This does not take into account those wounded who survived. That is why Fort Wolters back in central Texas had been churning out U.S. Army helicopter pilots (at the Primary Phase) as if on a manufacturing basis. Ambitious, adventurous young men between 18 and 21 years of age flocked to become Warrant Officers and helicopter pilots. Warrant officer pay, flight pay, and Vietnam combat pay all added up to a very good monthly income.

[@dawgyizu5686]

beautiful

[@mountainryder3056]

Darkhorse - Cavalry always

[@CHOPPERGUYHD]

Hey everyone... We are on Patreon if you want to support our Chopperguy shows. Thanks! Bruce

[@matttrafton2725]

So much respect to those Loach pilots. Sadly , the closest I ever got to being shot at was over flying someone's unofficial gun range and pulling pitch when I saw a rifle being aimed at the R22 I was flying.

[@davidlagos9877]

Saludos desde Chile..!!

[@indy500tabasco8]

Good flying

[@johnknorr1140]

I remember watching one Looch get shot down Hunter killer team in the Asher Valley that was very disturbing we had to go recover everything I’ll never forget that in 1970 I was in the 101st airborne division

[@tylerlynch18tl]

Great video!! When will you be back at quantum?

[@CHOPPERGUYHD]

Not sure but still have my hangar at SDL

[@tylerlynch18tl]

@@CHOPPERGUYHD ok cool! Good thing youre a helicopter with the closures.

[@JumboShr1mp]

Love it!!!!!!!

[@tj11391]

Amazing

[@xcorperpro725]

Special thanks to ya all and RIP Fred DERF Thompsonm Shark 7, 174th AHC !!!!

[@56hueycobra]

I Have LTC. Hugh Mills Book 📕 Low Level Hell and I Have Read it About 5 Times Though 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@OTOss8]

Very cool.

[@andyhutch1947]

As a Viet Nam Helicopter Gunship Pilot it erks me to no end to see an OH-6 Cayuse helicopter referred to as a LOACH! It’s a LOH dammit! Light Observation Helicopter! A “Loach” is a friggin fish! You LOH Pilots need to speak up for yourselves.

[@gotchagoing8843]

LMAO.....believe or not, only folks like us know how to pronounce 'LOH' properly. I think that's why most write it as loach. BTW....welcome home brother.

[@waynewood1991]

So don't you think these guys were the bait dangling for the fish

[@jaatmaster]

1977 Hood AAF the low ground where the 4/9 Cav parked was called the Loach Pit.

[@darkhorse9785]

As I liked to say..........LOHs cleared down!

[@TravisMcKnight-lk7gg]

L.O.A.C.H. light , observation , attack , cargo , helicopter

[@UAL320]

Wonder how many tens of millions were pissed away on those brand new deliveries to Afghans?

[@มดแดง-ฃ3ข]

ย้ายโรงงานมาสร้างที่เมืองไทยเลยไหมเรากำลังลงทุนด้านอุตสาหกรรมชิ้นส่วนรถยนต์ขนาดใหญ่ภายใน 5 ปีนี้ไม่ต่ำกว่า 200,000 ล้าน

[@alpteknbaser7773]

💪

[@YIIIIEOVA]

😊

[@Eagle44]

🦅🇺🇸🏁😎

[@jawsper1]

I really like this video, but I stopped watching because of the sound.

[@cliftonwilliams766]

"Cat", here, damnit! It's "LOcH"...........not "Loach"! Get it right for once!

[@oczhaal]

This book is really good! Anyone who loves helos should buy it!

[@horsenoname7854]

SS396STINGRAYTURBO 💜

[@xipingpooh5783]

Outstanding