Following a good read of Theun's invasion stripe thread I thought I'd give what I think is the correct timeline for their removal. This was a bit haphazard and not all units did things at the same time.
The earliest order from SHAEF for removal is specifically to remove the upper stripes from Piper L-4s on 22 June '44
On 6 July '44 The U.S. 8th Air Force started removing upper stripes followed by many other units though no order from SHAEF has been found.
On 19 August '44 amendment 3 (to operational memorandum 23) ordered all wing stripes removed from 25 August. Fuselage stripes were to remain intact. Many units removed the upper fuselage stripes at this time in a "liberal" interpretation of the order.
On 6 December '44 operational memorandum 23 was revised,effective from 31 December, to order removal of all stripes.
There were exceptions. The A-26s (a new type unfamiliar to AA gunners) of the 9th airforce were granted permission (21 December) to carry stripes until the end of February '45.
34 wing of the RAF's 2nd TAF had three squadrons (Spitfires, Mosquitoes, Wellingtons) flying solo reconnaisance missions and allied gunners persistently shot at them. They were allowed to carry the markings for longer but there is no record of when they finally removed them.
By early 1945 the stripes were effectively officially discontinued.
Steve
The earliest order from SHAEF for removal is specifically to remove the upper stripes from Piper L-4s on 22 June '44
On 6 July '44 The U.S. 8th Air Force started removing upper stripes followed by many other units though no order from SHAEF has been found.
On 19 August '44 amendment 3 (to operational memorandum 23) ordered all wing stripes removed from 25 August. Fuselage stripes were to remain intact. Many units removed the upper fuselage stripes at this time in a "liberal" interpretation of the order.
On 6 December '44 operational memorandum 23 was revised,effective from 31 December, to order removal of all stripes.
There were exceptions. The A-26s (a new type unfamiliar to AA gunners) of the 9th airforce were granted permission (21 December) to carry stripes until the end of February '45.
34 wing of the RAF's 2nd TAF had three squadrons (Spitfires, Mosquitoes, Wellingtons) flying solo reconnaisance missions and allied gunners persistently shot at them. They were allowed to carry the markings for longer but there is no record of when they finally removed them.
By early 1945 the stripes were effectively officially discontinued.
Steve
Comment