Iconic D-Day Spitfire restored to the skies

THE Allied aircraft that was first to down an enemy plane over the D-Day beaches has regained its invasion stripes to mark 80 years since the Normandy landings.

- Jo Riley

Supermarine Spitfire ML407, known as The Grace Spitfire, destroyed a German bomber as waves of troops stormed the coastline on June 6, 1944.

The iconic fighter has now had its black and white D-Day stripes painted back on.

After several post-winter test flights, the Spitfire was taken above the clouds for a sortie with aviation photographer Darren Harbar this week, in preparation for an appearance at the Sywell Airshow Weekend in Northamptonshire in June.

The plane, originally built as a singleseater, flew 176 combat sorties and amassed 319 combat flying hours.