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[CzechTexan]

I've never paid much attention to the white stripes on wings of fighter planes before but I came across a post on a website that got me interested.  http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?12945-SEAC-white-theatre-bands-date-of-introduction

It says that the white stripes (for easy ID) were introduced in the SEAC on 1 February 1945.
That is almost one year after the Battle of Imphal got started (March '44).
If that is so, then a/c did not have the white stripes during Imphal battle.

It makes sense because before that time, the SEAC was worried about the blue/white markings being too highly visible so they adopted the blue/light blue markings.  Remember, this is the period of time when the JAAF was still very active in the Burma Theater.
If the SEAC wanted less visible markings then why would they add the highly visible white stripes on wings? ... that would not make sense.

So, my conclusion is that it's most likely true that the SEAC did not introduce the white stripes until 1 Feb. 1945 (as mentioned above) until after they had won air superiority and the JAAF was not as active.  SEAC would at this time be more concerned about friendly fire (which is what the white stripes are intended for) rather than being visible to enemy.

I just recently uploaded a new Imphal campaign but used skins for fighters with white stripes on the wings...which now I believe is inaccurate.  In the future I will only use skins with the white stripes for 1945.

any comments/opinions?

[HBPencil]

That's my understanding as well, although as your link points out the stripes were added to Thunderbolts in December '44.

Just some points to note in case you didn't already know...
- I strongly suspect that not all (but still many of) the PR XI Spitfires received the white stripes.
- When PR Mosquitoes changed from PR Blue to silver they received dark blue SEAC stripes.
- No stripes at all on aircraft based on Cocos Islands (Operation Pharos).
- It may be that aircraft that spent their time at low level had slightly duller/toned down stripes so they didn't contrast against the jungle so much. Check out the colour of the upper wing stripe of this Hurri IV and compare it to the roundel, spinner and skin of the palest armourer.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209670

[CzechTexan]

That's my understanding as well, although as your link points out the stripes were added to Thunderbolts in December '44.

Just some points to note in case you didn't already know...
- I strongly suspect that not all (but still many of) the PR XI Spitfires received the white stripes.
- When PR Mosquitoes changed from PR Blue to silver they received dark blue SEAC stripes.
- No stripes at all on aircraft based on Cocos Islands (Operation Pharos).
- It may be that aircraft that spent their time at low level had slightly duller/toned down stripes so they didn't contrast against the jungle so much. Check out the colour of the upper wing stripe of this Hurri IV and compare it to the roundel, spinner and skin of the palest armourer.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209670

about the Hurri IV, I read another discussion of modelers and someone suggested that that wing stripe is dusty, resulting in the darker shade.  Being a duller shade of color is a good point.  Perhaps it was a gray or light blue color...we may never know.  By the way, you probably know that that photo was taken at Onbauk, close to Mandalay, in 1945.

Yes, Thunderbolts got stripes in December'44.  Probably because they were radial-engined  and might get confused with JAAF radial a/c.  But Dec.'44 was after the IMphal battle (March '44- July '44)...reinforcing my point that stripes were not added until after Imphal battle.

Thank you for the comments, HBPencil.  I think this is a worthy discussion if we are searching for historical accuracy.

[CzechTexan]

Thank you also for linking that nice photo website.  I found some good stuff there.

I got interested in 42 Sqn operations.  Their code was AW.  I have made a couple skins of their Hurri IV's.
But I just noticed a photo:

ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST, 1941-1945.. © IWM (CF 263)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Pilots of 'A' Flight, No. 42 Squadron RAF study target maps in a clearing at Onbauk, Burma, before an operation in support of 14th Army.  In the background, an 'A' Flight fitter can be seen preparing a Hawker Hurricane Mark IV for the operation.

Would the code letters on the a/c be "F - AW" in that order?
or should it be "AW - F" on this side of the a/c?

  edit:  Just found the answer on YouTube: 
The website gave good description of the video too.

[Knochenlutscher]

Individual a/c letter points towards nose
Squadron code is located aft roundel