Now I've promoted myself to Sergeant, I need to know the dimensions of the NCO band at the rear of the M1 - width, height and methods for applying it, including recommedned paint.
Thanks in advance.
hi,i done mine 3 inches long and 1 inche wide,then used masking tape on the outline and used a soft sponge with white waterbased paint and dab it on,2 coats i did,and pulled the tape off ,job done a nice stripe 
p.s just in case, you need your stripe going across not going upwards.
(REF) GUNMAN AIRSOFT
CO Easy Company,506th PIR,101st Airborne
Cheers mate.
And I know 
There is no difinitive size really mate, just whatever looks good. You'll notice that the chinstrap (when hooked around the back of the helmet) covers most of the NCO stripe anyway. I don't think this was done by many units in the war, think its more of a late war thing.
For paint wise, i would use a white matte spray paint, cover the rest up with masking tape etc, spray a very thin coat and leave it at that, a solid bright white bar will get you shot to pieces!
Am I right in thinking this was primarily done for D-Day but was quickly abandoned after it was noted it made the NCO a bigger target for snipers?
No longer involved in airsoft.
Well it wasnt so much a d-day thing.
It was an ETO thing but your right as the war went on it was rare for any markings. Mostly the vet still had theres.
Think of it this way if your having rounds wizzing past your head would you really want to stop and paint a white line on the back of your helmet?
Also goes for Chevrons and unit patches on Jackets. Later in the war it was very rare to see patches. Depended on the unit and when they entered the fray.
Ahhh right. Cheers for the info 
No longer involved in airsoft.
Think of it this way if your having rounds wizzing past your head would you really want to stop and paint a white line on the back of your helmet?
Fair play though, I remember playing once when I had my big white Spades on the side of my paratrooper helmet, people said their eye was really drawn to it.
I have a nice big Orange Diamond with a 5 in the middle on the back of mine with a white NCO stripe. If you are lucky enough to attack from behind you cant miss me lol
