This same year the Kiowa would see duty in Vietnam. Used as a scout, they were originally designed as a replacement for the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, but the popularity of it never reached that of the Cayuse. Some Air Cav units deployed the OH-58 and had some success though 28 Kiowas were lost to hostile fire.
The OH-58 performed well at low speeds and the tail rotor could be used to "horse around" a turn, rather than fly through it. This gave it super maneuverability.
The OH-58 has been used in support of the Army for several years and today they fly the OH-58D. The back seats carry equipment rather than people and have many updated systems. The Kiowa can be seen in action in the deserts of Iraq.
OH-58A 70-15258
The museum's OH-58 was delivered to the Army in June 1971 to the 7th Army Training Center in Grafenwohr Germany.
In 1978 it transferred to Headquarters 1st Infantry Div. in Goppingen, Germany.
In 1988 it went to B Co. 7/159th Aviation Regiment.
In 1990 to D Co. 2-1 Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Ge. and from Dec1990-Aug 1991 deployed in support of Desert Storm.
In 1992 it went to B Co. 228th A.B. Panama.
In 1993 it went to the Pa. National Guard and in 1998 was declared surplus.
In 2001 it was purchased by the museum from the Army as a stripped out fuselage without the engine and most of the parts.
It was restored in Atlanta Georgia and in 2002 flew to California to its new home.
