The Strange Reason Allied Planes Had White Stripes

Just three days before D-Day, a strange sight unfolded across Allied airfields in Britain. Crews dropped everything to cover thousands of planes in thick black and white stripes. There was no time for neat work- paint was slapped on with brushes, rollers, and even mops. The reason was simple but critical: when the Normandy invasion began, the skies would be filled with Allied aircraft, and gunners needed a quick way to distinguish friend from foe.

The bold black-and-white stripes painted across the wings and fuselage made Allied planes stand out clearly in the sky. These markings provided soldiers and gunners with a quick way to identify friendly aircraft, reducing the likelihood of mistaking them for German planes and preventing friendly fire, thereby helping to ensure the success of the largest invasion in history.