Invasion stripes

F-5 Lightning (P-38 Lightning reconnaissance version) participating in the Normandy campaign showing the D-Day invasion stripes
A Spitfire PR.Mk.XIX displayed at an air show in 2008 with the black and white invasion stripes

Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of Allied aircraft during World War II to reduce the chance that they would be attacked by friendly forces during and after the Normandy Landings. Three white and two black bands were wrapped around the rear of a fuselage just in front of the empennage (tail) and from front to back around the upper and lower wing surfaces.