On reason for the movie a giant Cross out of Lorraine emblem was applied to your aircraft so you can portray this new Free French squadron
Within the June 1956 MH415 is offered in order to a great Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a target-pulling package toward Belgian and NATO pushes. COGEA had in the past operate various white flights towing banners and you will equivalent, but when the new armed forces target towing price came up, the newest Percival Proctors these were playing with did not have the fresh new results expected. The fresh new Belgian Sky Forces last few Spitfires given just the right chance, and you can COGEA ordered half a dozen of these to run for their army contract. Several months photos tell you the new flights inside a blank aluminum livery which have green nosecone and you can tail. Inside 1961 it had been hired having flick use in The Longest Big date, which had been recorded on location when you look at the France.
Into the 14th Could possibly get MH415 arrived on film device from the RAF Northern Weald during the Essex, and you will was later based from the Debden, Duxford and you will Hawkinge
The brand new aircraft try painted during the a good camouflage system and you can flown with 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron codes GW-Roentgen. For the Sep 1961 the aircraft brought about a stir by the appearing at the fresh RAF Battle out of The www.escortlook.de/en/switzerland/st-gallen-state/rapperswil-jona uk air monitor on Biggin Mountain in their livery throughout the Longest Go out, flown because of the Pierre Laureys, an effective French The second world war Spitfire pilot. It is knew that MH415 was the past airworthy Spitfire to end up being sold from the COGEA, and is also thought that it absolutely was from the Ostend just like the later just like the December 1964. MH415 was purchased regarding COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in France, with the sum of 8, 000 francs towards ish Mahaddie is event together routes on the impending flick The battle of The uk, and you can just after a study because of the John Simpson, MH415 is purchased getting an undisclosed contribution.
The brand new routes try dismantled and sent of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree to own a change, registered Grams-AVDJ, so you’re able to Mahaddie with the 29th December 1966. It absolutely was sample flown and you will delivered to the movie unit from the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 by T An effective Davies. The routes try stored, its Merlin 66 motor restricted, while in the most of 1967, and it also was not flown again up until November, if this received a different Certification off Airworthiness, are take to flown to the 29th of the month from the T A beneficial Davies in the Henlow. In early 1968 shooting had started in The country of spain, so when a Spitfire are necessary for place functions, MH415 try selected and you can waiting in the Henlow and you will Luton. A good 90-gallon miss-tank are installing as well as other attempt aircraft achieved throughout March in the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough of the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.
In the late February MH415 leftover the united kingdom, flying thru France in order to Tablada Heavens Legs from inside the The country of spain. For it much time airline it absolutely was flown of the V H Bellamy. Movie place become N3312/ AI-C used from inside the Spain, flown in the main of the Lt Cdr Hynett. Brand new Spitfire the showed up into The united kingdomt from the Manston on the 11th Could possibly get 1968, from inside the business having a gaggle regarding Messerschmitts, a couple Heinkels and Jeff Hawke inside the a-b-twenty-five cam-motorboat. The weather within the 1968 try generally speaking Uk, in addition to movie team have been running out of day. Loans has also been causing difficulties, it are decided to disperse the fresh new aerial unit to the a great weather of your own Southern out of France.
MH415 and you can many other Spitfires and several Messerschmitts was indeed flown off to Montpelier for the August for a few months, additionally the expected footage try obtained under the sun. MH415 used of many markings during the filming, along with N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-A, N3310/ GoodI-Good, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you will N3314/ AI-Age. So it Spitfire was fitted which have strobe bulbs throughout the machine-gun ports and you will is flown for a maximum of 125 times during the shooting. When you look at the October 1968 it absolutely was built in the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to month was applied in filming bail-out photos within Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many film unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 towards the end of the motion picture duties therefore is dismantled during the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices having distribution so you’re able to Houston, Tx, where it found its way to January 1969.