H-5
With the Swiss DH-100 "Vampires" being fitted with ejection seats from 1960, the pilot's required degree of protection was no longer guaranteed by 'soft' helmets as the leather "C-Type" or canvas ones like the "Stoffhauben".
In the second half of the 50s, Swiss AF started an evaluation comprising different flight helmet types such as P-3, H-3, H-4, H-5 (US), Mk.1 / Mk.1A (GB) and the "Type 27" (F).
Unlike the tested USN H-3 /H-4, the H-5 design, in addition to discontinuing the need for a fabric inner helmet, improved stability and eliminated the reinforced ridges (after finding that the ridges simply intensified and localised the impact forces).
Like its predecessor H-4, the H-5 also had external buckles for adjusting the back of the headsling.
USN helmets were painted gold because it was found this colour provides efficient thermal protection against solar radiation. Other colours have a tendency to make the helmet warm and therefore uncomfortable.
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During 1949, after assessments made in service, in order to enhance solar radiation reflection, all H-5s were painted white.
Due the use on British aircrafts, during the evaluations and at the beginning of their commissioning, the H-5s were equipped with H-Type oxygen masks.
More about on the "Swiss AF 1950 evaluation" and "The Swiss H-5" pages.