Into the reason for the movie a large Get across away from Lorraine emblem was applied on routes in order to portray the Free French squadron
Into the Summer 1956 MH415 are offered in order to an effective Belgian team, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a target-towing contract towards Belgian and you can NATO pushes. COGEA got previously operate various white aircraft pulling ads and you can comparable, however when the brand new army target pulling offer came up, brand new Percival Proctors they were using didn’t have the latest results called for. The fresh new Belgian Air Forces last few Spitfires offered the ideal chance, and COGEA purchased half a dozen of them to operate because of their military contract. Period images tell you the latest flights from inside the a blank aluminium livery with environmentally friendly nosecone and you will tail. In the 1961 it had been rented to own movie use in The latest Longest Big date, that was filmed on location within the France.
Towards the 14th May MH415 arrived into film unit during the RAF Northern Weald from inside the Essex, and is later depending on Debden, Duxford and you will Hawkinge
Brand new aircraft are coated within the a great camouflage design and you will flown which have 340 (Ile de france) Squadron requirements GW-R. In Sep 1961 the fresh routes brought about a blend of the appearing from the the brand new RAF Battle off Britain air screen during the Biggin Hill inside its livery on the Longest Date, flown from the Pierre Laureys, good French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s understood that MH415 is the final airworthy Spitfire to become ended up selling by COGEA, and is also thought that it had been during the Ostend because late as December 1964. MH415 is actually bought regarding COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation out of Dinhard when you look at the France, to your amount of 8, 000 francs towards ish Mahaddie is actually gathering with her aircraft on imminent movie The fight regarding The uk, and you can immediately following a study by John Simpson, MH415 are ordered having a keen undisclosed contribution.
The aircraft try dismantled and sent because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd within Elstree to own a change, registered Grams-AVDJ, to help you Mahaddie into the 29th December 1966. It was sample flown and you will delivered to the movie device within RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 by the T A great Davies. New flights is actually held, the Merlin 66 engine inhibited, during a lot of 1967, and it also wasn’t flown again up to November, if this received an alternative Certificate out of Airworthiness, becoming test flown towards 29th of that times from the T A beneficial Davies at the Henlow. During the early 1968 filming got were only available in Spain, and as good Spitfire was you’ll need for venue work, MH415 are chose and you will prepared on Henlow and you will Luton. An effective 90-gallon get rid of-container are fitting and various decide to try aircraft accomplished throughout March at Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough of the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.
Into the later March MH415 kept the united kingdom, flying via France to Tablada Air Legs inside The country of spain. Because of it much time flight it absolutely was flown by V H Bellamy. Flick location become N3312/ AI-C then followed in Biel/Bienne escort the The country of spain, flown in the main of the Lt Cdr Hynett. Brand new Spitfire new arrived back in England in the Manston with the 11th Could possibly get 1968, into the business with a gaggle out-of Messerschmitts, one or two Heinkels and you may Jeff Hawke within the a-b-twenty five cam-watercraft. The elements in the 1968 are usually Uk, together with flick company have been not having enough time. Fund was also leading to troubles, it is chose to disperse this new aerial unit towards a beneficial weather of the Southern off France.
MH415 and you can many other Spitfires and several Messerschmitts was flown off to Montpelier in August for three days, in addition to required video footage are obtained in the sun. MH415 used of many markings while in the filming, and additionally N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A good, N3310/ An excellentI-A good, N3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you will N3314/ AI-E. Which Spitfire is suitable having strobe bulbs from the machine-gun harbors and you will try flown getting a maximum of 125 times throughout the shooting. Inside October 1968 it absolutely was centered from the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later one to week was used in the shooting bail-aside images at the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of the film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 for the completion of the film duties and it was dismantled from the Bovingdon by Simpson’s Aeroservices having shipping in order to Houston, Colorado, in which they arrived in January 1969.