Did the US M4A1 75mm used during D-Day have the applique armor applied to the hull side and turret? My Fujimi kit includes the early turret (no loader's hatch), solid transmission cover, small driver/co-driver hatches and the applique for the turret sides and hull sides. Would they have landed this way or was it a post D-Day enhancement?

Yes they did. There are pictures of abandoned shermans with applique armor on Omaha beach in Concord's Shermans in Action (1) and US Armor Battles in France. There are also pictures of the 2nd Armored Division arriving three days later with applique armor on their shermans as well.