On reason for the film an enormous Cross out of Lorraine emblem was utilized into aircraft so you’re able to represent brand new Free French squadron
In Summer 1956 MH415 is actually marketed to help you a Belgian providers, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had an objective-pulling price on Belgian and you may NATO forces. COGEA had in the past operated individuals white routes towing banners and you may similar, but when the fresh new military target pulling price came up, the brand new Percival Proctors these people were playing with didn’t have the newest efficiency called for. The new Belgian Air Forces last couple of Spitfires given just the right opportunity, and COGEA purchased six of them to operate due to their army contract. Months photo let you know the brand new aircraft for the a clean aluminium livery having green nosecone and end. In 1961 it was leased getting movie use in The newest Longest Big date, that was filmed on site within the France.
Into 14th Will get MH415 showed up toward flick product at the RAF North Weald inside the Essex, and you can is actually later on depending at the Debden, Duxford and you may Hawkinge
The brand new flights are coated inside an excellent camouflage strategy and you may flown with 340 (Ile de france) Squadron rules GW-Roentgen. In Sep 1961 the new routes caused a blend by the searching during the the newest RAF Race away from Great britain sky monitor from the Biggin Slope into the the livery from the Longest Date, flown because of the Pierre Laureys, a good French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s know one MH415 is actually the final airworthy Spitfire in order to become offered by the COGEA, and is thought that it was at Ostend because the later since December 1964. MH415 try ordered regarding COGEA of the Rousseau Aviation away from Dinhard in France, on the amount of 8, 000 francs towards the ish Mahaddie is event together with her flights toward impending film The fight off Britain, and you can immediately after a survey by John Simpson, MH415 are bought getting an undisclosed share.
The fresh new flights was dismantled and you may mailed of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree for a redesign, entered Grams-AVDJ, in order to Mahaddie towards 29th December 1966. It was test flown and you may taken to the movie equipment in the RAF Henlow in early 1967 of the T A beneficial Davies. The flights are kept, their Merlin 66 engine inhibited, during the a lot of 1967, and it also was not flown again until November, if it received yet another Certificate from Airworthiness, are attempt flown for the 29th of that few days from the T find out this here A good Davies at Henlow. In early 1968 shooting got were only available in The country of spain, so when a Spitfire is needed for place performs, MH415 are picked and you can waiting on Henlow and you can Luton. A beneficial ninety-gallon lose-container try fitted as well as other try flights accomplished throughout March at Henlow, Luton and Farnborough by the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.
Into the late February MH415 remaining great britain, traveling thru France to help you Tablada Air Feet into the Spain. For this much time journey it was flown by the V H Bellamy. Flick place behave as N3312/ AI-C then followed within the The country of spain, flown in the main because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The latest Spitfire this new arrived back in England from the Manston into the 11th Could possibly get 1968, for the business having a bunch away from Messerschmitts, a few Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke inside the a-b-twenty-five digital camera-watercraft. The current weather for the 1968 is generally United kingdom, therefore the motion picture team was basically running out of time. Financing was also causing problems, it is made a decision to move new aerial equipment toward a beneficial weather of Southern regarding France.
MH415 and you may a number of other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts were flown out to Montpelier inside the August for three months, and the necessary video footage is acquired under the sun. MH415 dressed in many marks throughout shooting, along with N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-An excellent, N3310/ GoodI-A good, Letter3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. That it Spitfire try installing that have strobe lights throughout the machine gun slots and you will is flown to possess a total of 125 occasions during filming. In October 1968 it absolutely was oriented at the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after that day was used inside filming bail-aside shots during the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of the movie unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, acquired MH415 towards conclusion of their film requirements and it are dismantled during the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices to own shipping to Houston, Tx, in which it arrived in January 1969.