Wm. Strudel and his helmet

[Brian Bines]

There are some photos in a couple of publications showing Luftwaffe aircrew wearing steel helmets. In the early part of the war this was the standard infantry helmet sometimes hammered out at the sides locally to better accomodate the earphones, in the later war years a specific steel helmet for aircrew was issued. As a I recall an example of the hammerred out type was displayed at the Imperial War Museum London I believe linked to KG100. Did not USAAF aircrew also sometimes wear steel helmets on bombing operations. The Blitz Then & Now books did not show a WM. Strudel in the index.