The black and white stripes you see on this Spitfire MK 9 are called “Invasion Stripes” and were painted on the eve of D-Day. The top secret stripes were applied to over 6,000 airplanes so that the Allied troops on the ground would be able to identify the Allied pilots from Axis pilots. This airplane flew 17 sorties, or defense attacks, over the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and flew 74 total missions throughout WWII with the 302nd and 303rd Polish Volunteer Groups, the Royal Air Force in England, and the Free French. The half-stork painted ahead of the cockpit is the insignia of the oldest French squadron, which was established during WWI.