Austrian Air Force M58 Helmet

The M58 helmet (officially the Stahlhelm nach US-Muster M1958) was the standard combat helmet of the Austrian Bundesheer between 1958 and the 1990s. The variant for the Austrian Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte) can be recognized by several specific details:

• Color: Unlike the olive drab army version, the air force version features a dark or grey-blue color. This color matched the blue uniforms of the ground and security personnel.
• Design: The outer shell is an almost exact copy of the American M1 helmet from the Second World War.
• The Outer Shell: Made of steel with a distinct rear seam.
• The Liner (Inner Helmet): Early versions were made of compressed fibre, while later models from the 1960s onwards were manufactured from thermoplastic.
• Markings: Many helmets feature manufacturer stamps such as U.SCH. (Ulbrichts Witwe from Schwanenstadt) with years like '58, '59, or later.
• Usage: These helmets were used as standard equipment in Austria during the Cold War until they were replaced by modern Kevlar helmets.