A Douglas A-20 making a bomb run on D-Day, 6 June 1944

Assigned to the Ninth Air Force the 416th Bombardment Group, they were equipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft, seen here wearing the invasion stripes - alternating black and white bands on the wings and fuselage - an attempt to increase recognition and thereby reducing friendly fire incidents.

D-Day invasion stripes were removed from the upper surfaces of aircraft a month later, and by the end of 1944 they were completely removed.