Impressed by the performance of the OH-13 Sioux
and the OH-23 Raven and yet realizing the age
of the aircraft, the US Army began searching for
a replacement. At the same time, Hughes Helicopters
had been busy designing and building a low-cost
lightweight two-seater helicopter called the TH-55.
Although first flown in 1956, the TH-55J underwent
a redesign and overhaul before it entered production
in 1960. Also known as the Model 269, it quickly
became a hit in the civilian market with customers
from law enforcement, agriculture and other occupations
operating the TH-55J for many years.
Even before it entered production, the TH-55J
caught the eye of the US Army. At first, the army
rejected the TH-55J for use as a combat helicopter
but in 1964 adopted it for use as a scout and
observation aircraft as well as its main role
of a trainer aircraft for helicopter pilots. Besides
the US Army, the TH-55J served in the military
forces of several other nations as well.
Amongst those military forces was the Japanese
Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), which at the
time was dealing with the threat posed by the
kaiju. As a result, it used everything in its
arsenal to combat the threat even if its builders
had not intended for the weapon to see actual
combat and that included the TH-55J.
After a beetle-like kaiju named Megalon appeared
and routed JGSDF units, a robot inventor by the
name of Goro Ibuki consulted with the JSDF. He
persuaded them that he could use his robot Jet
Jaguar to help summon Godzilla for assistance.
Using a TH-55J along with a remote control device
built into the robot, the JSDF helped Ibuki regain
control of Jet Jaguar and send it off to Monster
Island. Afterwards for a short time, the TH-55J
that had the inventor continued to pursue and
observe Megalon as he headed on towards Tokyo
while moving in a random and savage fashion before
the JASDF arrived to attack the kaiju.
