Airborne Strip & 1st AB Division

[tcrown]

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.

[JerryBB]

I thought the strip was for non parachute troops to show their status as airborne troops rather than just as infantry/signals etc.... No disrespect to infantry or signals etc...

[silverwash]

worn by all and sundry. cannot beat an armful !

[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.

[Jack8]

Read the post by Badjez in this thread;

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=36812

Jack

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by 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.

I agree in part, but I don't understand who the "non operational troops who performed purely administrative roles with the Airborne Divisions" might have been. I cannot believe that there was a non-combatant element who were exempt from going "by air to battle" on the Establishment of an AB Div.
Mike

[Colin S]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

I agree in part, but I don't understand who the "non operational troops who performed purely administrative roles with the Airborne Divisions" might have been. I cannot believe that there was a non-combatant element who were exempt from going "by air to battle" on the Establishment of an AB Div.
Mike

Mike

As I understand it, these would be the essential admin troops who would not deploy by air - clerks, typists, storemen, laundries etc, who kept the Divisions running whilst in camp. They would follow on as the 'tail' after an airborne deployment (e.g. the seaborne tail following on after 6th Airborne's D-Day assault or the tail who met the remnants of 1st Airborne south of the Rhine after Arnhem). They don't add combat power, so don't need to go in by air or use valuable air assets, but nevertheless were on the strength of the Divisions.

Colin

[Frank Kelley]

Very true!

Originally Posted by silverwash

worn by all and sundry. cannot beat an armful !