What did the helicopter do?

Answer 1

Helicopters were being developed at the end of World War II, but were not deployed until the Korean (Conflict) War. Helicopters were first used to evacuated wounded and fallen soldiers from the battlefield and to transport casualties to and from Evac Hospitals (see the movie and TV series M.A.S.H.). As the DoD learned how beneficial helicopters were and how effectively they could move in and out of combat situations, they began to be used as weapons platforms and for troop movement.

Later, during the Battle of la Drang, 14-18 November 1965, the helicopter was the primary mover for elements of the US Army under command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore in the first major conflict between the United States and North Vietnamese forces.

The helicopter in many configurations from MH-6 "Little Birds" to CH-47 Chinooks continues to be one of the hardest used pieces of military hardware, performing recon, supply, close ground support, and armor killing operations. The US Navy and Marine Corps even use specially outfitted Seahawks (Naval and Marine versions of the Blackhawk helicopter) to hunt for and combat enemy submarines.

From personal experience, once of the most gut loosing moments I ever had was during a combat simulation exercise, watching as a flight of AH-64 Apache helicopters rose out of a wheat field half a mile away from my position with almost no sound at all until they were totally visible, close enough to watch the nose guns track those of my missile crew walking across the tarmac.

Answer 2

The helicopter changed aviation by opening up almost anywhere as a landing site.