The APH-6A helmet appeared during early '60 as a replacement for the heavier APH-5 flight helmet.

The exact USN definition was: Helmet Shell Assembly Pilot's Protective.

The shell was made of Polyester-impregnated fibreglass. A single sliding visor (dark, gold or clear) was protected by a plastic cover.

The MS22001 Oxygen Mask was attached to the helmet by the 'Butterfly' system.

The Reflective Tape stripes were introduced in the late '50 as a safety measure, and a standard USN or USMC logo decal was placed on the front.

The APH-6A was gradually replaced by the double visor APH-6B from 1967. Until then, it was worn by most USN/USMC flying crews, on both fixed and rotor wings.

A boom microphone could be fitted like as on the depicted helmet (in this case M33 Microphone).

A boom microphone could be fitted like as on the depicted helmet (in this case M33 Microphone).

The lining was made of Styrofoam padded with leather pieces.

The last picture shows the Gold-visor APH-6A laying over two other interesting pieces of Nuclear Anti-Flash USN flight gear:

A white Anti-Flash MA2 Integrated Torso Harness, developed in 1961 for Tactical Nuclear missions together with other additional white-colour pieces of equipment, and the very first prototype of the Fire Resistant, Non-Melting type Flight Suit, the HT-1, issued in 1962. This suit might have been used as an Anti-flash garment too, but the main reason of the shiny-white colour is simple: at the time the Du Pont Company, producer of the new HT-1 material (and later Nomex), was unable to dye it properly without loosing the non-flammable properties. Later, as we know, the Fire-resistant Flight Suits CS/FRP-1 would be issued in green colour (Green Navy Shade 3434). This particular suit has been probably used at some time as 'Party Suit'.

The yellow-colour leather Flight Gloves are USN '50-'60 standard issue (Gloves Flying Leather Summer type B3A). These gloves were issued in Brown leather too.