With the purposes of the film a huge Get across from Lorraine emblem was used to the routes in order to show the latest Totally free French squadron
Into the June 1956 MH415 is marketed to good Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a target-towing bargain on Belgian and you may NATO forces. COGEA had previously run some light aircraft pulling banners and you can similar, but once new military address towing bargain came up, the Percival Proctors they certainly were having fun with didn’t have the fresh results required. The newest Belgian Heavens Forces last few Spitfires considering just the right possibility, and you can COGEA bought six of those to perform for their armed forces contract. Several months photo let you know the newest routes within the a blank aluminium livery that have eco-friendly nosecone and you may tail. During the 1961 it was rented to have flick use in Brand new Longest Time, that has been recorded on location for the France.
On the 14th Can get MH415 turned up on flick device at RAF North Weald in Essex, and is after centered in the Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge
Brand new aircraft is decorated in the a great camouflage program and you can flown that have 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron codes GW-R. In the September 1961 the routes caused a blend of the lookin from the new RAF Battle away from Britain air display during the Biggin Slope when you look at the its livery throughout the Longest Time, flown from the Pierre Laureys, a good French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s know you to definitely MH415 try the very last airworthy Spitfire to feel marketed by the COGEA, and is also thought that https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/lucerne-state it actually was from the Ostend as the later since December 1964. MH415 is bought from COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation off Dinhard for the France, to the sum of 8, 000 francs on the ish Mahaddie try gathering along with her routes into the impending film The battle out-of Great britain, and just after a study from the John Simpson, MH415 is actually bought having an undisclosed contribution.
The newest aircraft is dismantled and shipped because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd during the Elstree having a change, registered Grams-AVDJ, to help you Mahaddie towards the 29th December 1966. It actually was test flown and you will brought to the movie device at RAF Henlow in early 1967 by the T A good Davies. The latest aircraft was held, their Merlin 66 motor restricted, through the the majority of 1967, and it also was not flown again up to November, whether it gotten a new Certificate out-of Airworthiness, getting sample flown toward 29th of that day by the T Good Davies in the Henlow. At the beginning of 1968 filming had were only available in Spain, and as a great Spitfire are necessary for venue functions, MH415 is actually chose and you will waiting at Henlow and Luton. An effective 90-gallon drop-container is fitting and various try aircraft achieved while in the February during the Henlow, Luton and you will Farnborough of the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.
During the late March MH415 left the united kingdom, flying thru France so you’re able to Tablada Air Foot inside The country of spain. Because of it much time trip it absolutely was flown because of the V H Bellamy. Movie venue work as N3312/ AI-C then followed during the The country of spain, flown in the main by the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh new Spitfire the latest turned up into England in the Manston with the 11th Get 1968, in the organization having a gaggle of Messerschmitts, a couple of Heinkels and you will Jeff Hawke during the a-b-twenty-five digital camera-ship. Sun and rain during the 1968 are generally Uk, and the film business was indeed running out of date. Money has also been ultimately causing dilemmas, this is decided to disperse the fresh new aerial unit towards the good environment of the South off France.
MH415 and you may many other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts was flown out over Montpelier inside August for three months, and the requisite footage are gotten in the sunshine. MH415 wore of a lot scars through the filming, plus N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-Good, N3310/ An excellentI-An excellent, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you can N3314/ AI-E. So it Spitfire are fitting with strobe lighting regarding the machine-gun harbors and you may is flown to own a total of 125 days throughout the shooting. In the Oct 1968 it absolutely was dependent during the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely week was used in the shooting bail-aside shots in the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of the movie device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 for the completion of its motion picture responsibilities therefore was dismantled from the Bovingdon from the Simpson’s Aeroservices for shipment so you’re able to Houston, Texas, where it found its way to January 1969.