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WW2 History Facts

We're taking a look back in history today... did you know that during WW2 the Allies painted "invasion stripes" on aircraft to help protect them?

Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of Allied aircraft 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.

and

Did you know during World War 2 those in liberated areas would write messages on tanks, so that loved ones in the next villages and districts would know they were ok?

Here, two Dutch girls, Ria Vermeulen and Ineke van Wijck write messages on a 1st Polish Armoured Division Sherman tank after the liberation of Breda, their hometown, Noord-Brabant Province, The Netherlands, (likely late October) 1944. Their note says "Tilburgseweg alles goed" meaning "Tilburgse Road, all fine".

Colouring: Colourised PIECE of JAKE facebook.com/jakoblagerweij - Rocolor Photo: IWM

To find out more about Erskine’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @ErskineCharity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity or listen to Erskine Veterans Radio at Erskine.org.uk/radio

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