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This is another part of the LBJ legacy. I never flew the Hughes LOH-6 but it replaced the Bell OH-13's and Hiller OH-23's early on. In the middle of the war the Pentagon switched horses. They dropped the contract with Hughes and went with Bell for the OH-58 Bell Jet Ranger. Surprise, surprise. Bell is in Texas and the Johnson family had interest. If you ever talk to guys who flew the LOH-6 and then had to switch to the OH-58, they may tell you they felt like they had been issued a death warrant. The Loach (LOH6) was a perfect man/machine machine from every account I have ever heard or read.

BTW, between tours I flew TH-13T's at Rucker. I think the civilian designation is Bell 47G. It is a souped up OH-13 and a fine aircraft. Every Army jock back then flew the TH-13T for their Instrument Training in flight school.