[Colin S]

My understanding was that the Airborne strip was introduced to distinquish operational glider borne personnel i.e. soldiers without para wings from those non operational troops who performed purely administrative roles with the Airborne Divisions. It's use by all types of unit, esp within 6th Airborne, was due to a misunderstanding of its intended use, coupled with the '"if it's available, then let's use it to further distinguish us from the common herd" syndrome....

By definition, Parachute Regiment troops should not have needed it, and it would have been only the Airlanding Brigade infantry and corps units who should have worn it, but the reality was different.