Posted on Sep 3, 2015
The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. 45 years of service and heading straight to the shredder.
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Some of the 'cost-saving' decisions for our military include retiring multiple airframes to include the Air Force's A-10 and the Army's only dedicated aerial scout platform, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. For the last year, I have seen at least 3 Squadrons head into the boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB. It is painful to watch, when you have spent your career in the field with these helicopters and know first hand what they bring to the fight. The OH-58 (A & C series) platform has been serving our country for over 45 years. The armed version, the OH-58D, was rushed into service for operations in Desert Shield/Storm. Over the decades, the DoD has been hell bent on replacing her and has spent billions researching other options and creating the short lived replacement, the Commanche. No matter what they came up with, there was never found to be a suitable replacement. If you ever got desert dust on your boots, you saw them fly overhead providing security. If you ever left the wire, you felt relieved seeing them overhead. But if you were ever in contact and called in the birds, you knew the enemy was about to get their butt handed to them. Rain or shine, day or night, the Kiowas were inbound.
Yesterday, the latest group of OH-58D's flew in from Fort Drum. But they are no longer heading into the boneyard. These aircraft are heading for the shredders. No museum displays, no veteran organizations, not to be transferred to the police/forestry services/BLM for $1 like they did for UH-1and AH-1, just straight to the shredders. This is no way for such an iconic part of Army aviation history to end. Please spread the word to your Congressmen, veteran's groups, air museums, PAO's, and let them know what is happening. These aircraft weren't brought here on the backs of low boy trailers. They were flown in from across the country. Let's find them a more suitable ending to their careers.
Yesterday, the latest group of OH-58D's flew in from Fort Drum. But they are no longer heading into the boneyard. These aircraft are heading for the shredders. No museum displays, no veteran organizations, not to be transferred to the police/forestry services/BLM for $1 like they did for UH-1and AH-1, just straight to the shredders. This is no way for such an iconic part of Army aviation history to end. Please spread the word to your Congressmen, veteran's groups, air museums, PAO's, and let them know what is happening. These aircraft weren't brought here on the backs of low boy trailers. They were flown in from across the country. Let's find them a more suitable ending to their careers.
Posted in these groups: 
15S: OH-58D/ARH Helicopter Repairer
15S: OH-58D/ARH Helicopter Repairer
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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SFC Jeffrey Couch
SFC Davis if your like me we have seen a lot of sad days that we still don't understand
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Do you have the website with the list of tail numbers of the acft that are in the boneyard? Or can you at least tell me if T/N 0550 is there?
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Those that have sat on their as* and not sat on the side of a bird that makes or breaks a soldier is not worthy of calling it duty fit just a old grunts opinion
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I would like to say I feel bad but I do not. As an OH-58 Mechanic/Crew Chief with 8 yrs working and flying in and on those birds I for one am glad to see them gone for good. I remember my first 58 pilot telling me how he would give his left nut if they would throw all the 58's in the trash and bring back the OH-6's. "GATOR" Johnson was a WO-4 with 3 yrs experience flying OH helo's in Vietnam and was still flying when I left for Germany in '86. While in Baghdad serving as an Infantryman during the "Surge" we had to fight like hell to get any helicopter support and only actually seen OH-58D’s twice and never when we asked for Air Support. We were always told the same thing, the area was to hot and Higher did not want to risk losing an Air Asset. We were given air support at night though by Apache units, thank god, those guys always came through and covered our ass’s in a pinch.
As for the A-10’s, that is by far the most Bad Ass air platform ever built and those bastards made a major difference for the Joe’s on the ground during daily combat operations. Removing them from the inventory is a BAD idea. PERIOD!
On a side note, I finally made a pilgrimage to Ft Rucker and went to the Army Aviation Musium. Dam fine job they did with that place. And big surprise to me they have one of the OH-58’s I crewed on in Ft Carson as their display at the Main entrance.
As for the A-10’s, that is by far the most Bad Ass air platform ever built and those bastards made a major difference for the Joe’s on the ground during daily combat operations. Removing them from the inventory is a BAD idea. PERIOD!
On a side note, I finally made a pilgrimage to Ft Rucker and went to the Army Aviation Musium. Dam fine job they did with that place. And big surprise to me they have one of the OH-58’s I crewed on in Ft Carson as their display at the Main entrance.
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Meh.....they did their time. Too small and too underpowered for the amount crap shoved into them. I preferred the Apache's during assaults in Afghanistan. The scouts were great and getting us prelim LZ information etc., but when you just needed to have something blown up at a 8500ft LZ, they had a hard time (or just couldn't) hanging.
I submit that the Army did most of those pilots a solid by sending them to various C-12 units.
I submit that the Army did most of those pilots a solid by sending them to various C-12 units.
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SFC Mark Merino
The best figure is that only 1/3 have been able to be retained by retraining. They could have saved more had they had a better retirement plan. Now, 2/3 of the scout's pilots have pink slips. That is too much combat experience leaving the ranks of the Army and it will be felt. I agree about the Apache being supreme in the 8,500 death from above mission. Our poor little girl wasn't even allowed to fly higher than Pike's Peak when we were stationed at Carson. Single engine helicopters can only do so much. If it wasn't for the quality of the Rolls Royce's engine we would have never got our reputation for such a high OR rate. The Apache wins hands down for crap hitting the fan scenarios, but it was the scout that was needed when precision was necessary. No good using a 30mm when some nugget tries blending into a crowded street.
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