Towards the purposes of the film a big Get across of Lorraine emblem was applied with the aircraft in order to represent the fresh new Free French squadron
During the Summer 1956 MH415 was sold so you’re able to a Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a target-towing bargain on the Belgian and you will NATO pushes. COGEA had in the past run certain light aircraft towing banners and similar, nevertheless when this new armed forces target pulling deal emerged, the newest Percival Proctors these were playing with didn’t have the new abilities called for. The Belgian Heavens Forces last few Spitfires given the best possibility, and you can COGEA ordered six of these to operate due to their military price. Several months photo let you know brand new routes inside the a bare aluminium livery which have environmentally friendly nosecone and you may end. In the 1961 it actually was rented for film include in The fresh Longest Time, which had been recorded on location when you look at the France.
To the 14th Can get MH415 turned up with the movie tool at the RAF Northern Weald in Essex, and you will was later depending at the Debden, Duxford and you will Hawkinge
The latest routes try painted inside the a camouflage design and you may flown which have 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron codes GW-R. Inside the Sep 1961 the fresh aircraft caused a stir because of the lookin from the this new RAF Battle out-of Great britain heavens display at the Biggin Slope in the its livery on Longest Date, flown by Pierre Laureys, an effective French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It’s realized one to MH415 is the past airworthy Spitfire to feel ended up selling because of the COGEA, and is also thought that it had been during the Ostend just like the later because the December 1964. MH415 is actually ordered regarding COGEA by Rousseau Aviation off Dinhard in the France, on amount of 8, 000 francs on ish Mahaddie was meeting along with her routes to the impending flick The fight off Britain, and shortly after a study of the John Simpson, MH415 is actually bought to have an undisclosed sum.
Brand new aircraft is dismantled and you can mailed from the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd within Elstree having a change, joined Grams-AVDJ, to Mahaddie with the 29th December 1966. It absolutely was attempt flown and you will taken to the movie tool in the RAF Henlow in early 1967 of the T A good Davies. Brand new flights was stored, their Merlin 66 engine inhibited, during most of 1967, plus it wasn’t flown again up until November, in the event it received another type of Certification from Airworthiness, are decide to try flown into 29th of these month because of the T A great Davies during the Henlow. During the early 1968 filming got were only available in The country of spain, so that as a good Spitfire are needed for location work, MH415 is actually selected and you will wishing at Henlow and you can Luton. A good 90-gallon shed-tank try suitable and differing shot flights achieved during the February on Henlow, Luton and you may Farnborough by Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.
In the later February MH415 left great britain, traveling thru France so you’re able to Tablada Heavens Foot within the Spain. For this a lot of time trip it had been flown by the V H Bellamy. Flick place act as N3312/ AI-C observed inside The country of spain, flown in the primary of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The new Spitfire the fresh new arrived back into England in the Manston to your 11th Could possibly get 1968, within the business with a gaggle away from Messerschmitts, a couple Heinkels and you will Jeff Hawke inside a-b-twenty-five cam-ship. The weather when you look at the 1968 is generally British, plus the movie organization was basically running out of time. Finance has also been causing dilemmas, it is actually made a decision to circulate this new aerial product with the a weather of your own Southern area off France.
MH415 and you may a great many other Spitfires and lots of Messerschmitts was indeed flown out over Montpelier when you look at the August for a few weeks, and also the needed video footage is actually received in the sunshine. MH415 dressed in many scars while in the shooting, and additionally N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-A great, N3310/ A goodI-A good, Letter3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you can N3314/ AI-Age. That it Spitfire is actually installing which have strobe lighting on machine-gun slots and try flown to have a total of 125 era during the shooting. In the Oct 1968 it absolutely was centered at https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/aargau/oftringen Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after one to times was used within the filming bail-out photos within Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, acquired MH415 towards the completion of the flick obligations also it is dismantled during the Bovingdon from the Simpson’s Aeroservices to have delivery to help you Houston, Tx, where it arrived in January 1969.