The Airborne strip was introduced late 1942 and I believe was targeting Air landing Brigades as well as Airborne units that were being formed at the time (3rd, 4th and 5th Para Brigades) mainly for 6th AB Division.
The strip was relatively short lived and was ordered in Sept 1944 to be removed by the end of Dec, although many troops continued to wear it until the end of the war.
I doing a bit of research on 3rd Para Bat, I was struck by the fact that the strips were rarely worn within the 1st Para Brigade (1st to 3rd Bat). Almost all the photos taken in 1944 show no signs of the strip (see a few examples below)
https://paradata.org.uk/media/4326?m...n=Group+photos
https://paradata.org.uk/media/4324?m...n=Group+photos
Could it be an indication that the original nucleus of Airborne units somehow despised these strips as being the sign of newcomers (or worse, non Para units)? I read somewhere the experience of a soldier being transferred to another battalion and having to removed the strips from his uniform because they were not fitting the 'esprit de corps'.
I would be happy to have your opinion.