To the purposes of the movie a massive Cross from Lorraine emblem was used with the routes to help you depict the fresh Totally free French squadron
Inside the Summer 1956 MH415 is actually marketed so you’re able to a good Belgian team, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a goal-towing contract into Belgian and you can NATO forces. COGEA got in past times run individuals light routes towing banners and comparable, but once the fresh army address pulling package came up, the brand new Percival Proctors these were using didn’t have this new abilities called for. The fresh Belgian Heavens Forces last couple of Spitfires considering just the right chance, and you can COGEA ordered six of them to run because of their armed forces package. Period photo show the new flights in the a blank aluminium livery with green nosecone and you may end. Into the 1961 it had been rented having film use in The fresh Longest Time, that was shot on site for the France.
Towards the 14th Get MH415 turned up on the film product within RAF Northern Weald from inside the Essex, and you will try after based during the Debden, Duxford and you may Hawkinge
This new aircraft try painted inside the a great camouflage strategy and you may flown with 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron requirements GW-Roentgen. Inside Sep 1961 the routes caused a blend because of the looking in the the fresh new RAF Race off Britain sky screen on Biggin Hill from inside the their livery on Longest Time, flown by the Pierre Laureys, an effective French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is know you to definitely MH415 are the last airworthy Spitfire so you’re able to become marketed of the COGEA, and it is thought that it actually was at the Ostend because the late given that December 1964. MH415 try purchased from COGEA from the Rousseau Aviation out-of Dinhard inside France, towards the sum of 8, 000 francs to your ish Mahaddie is actually event together with her flights for the imminent movie The fight of The uk, and you may after a survey by the John Simpson, MH415 try bought getting an undisclosed share.
New flights is dismantled and mailed of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd from the Elstree to own an overhaul, joined Grams-AVDJ, to Mahaddie to the 29th December 1966. It was sample flown and you may brought to the film unit within RAF Henlow in early 1967 because of the T A beneficial Davies. This new routes are held, its Merlin 66 engine restricted, while in the the majority of 1967, also it wasn’t flown again up until November, whether it received an alternative Certificate regarding Airworthiness, getting decide to try flown into 29th of the https://escortlook.de/en/switzerland/canton-of-solothurn few days from the T An effective Davies on Henlow. During the early 1968 filming got started in The country of spain, so when a Spitfire is necessary for location functions, MH415 is actually picked and you will prepared at Henlow and Luton. An effective ninety-gallon get rid of-tank try suitable and different sample flights achieved through the February at the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough by the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.
Within the later February MH415 kept great britain, traveling through France in order to Tablada Sky Foot from inside the The country of spain. Because of it long trip it was flown by the V H Bellamy. Motion picture place behave as N3312/ AI-C then followed into the The country of spain, flown in the primary because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. New Spitfire the arrived back into The united kingdomt during the Manston towards the 11th Could possibly get 1968, inside company which have a gaggle out-of Messerschmitts, two Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke inside a b-twenty five cam-boat. The weather in 1968 try usually United kingdom, and also the film team was running out of go out. Loans has also been resulting in dilemmas, which try chose to circulate the new aerial product into the a environment of Southern area out of France.
MH415 and you will a number of other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts was basically flown out over Montpelier in the August for three months, and also the expected video footage are received in the sun. MH415 wore of many marks while in the filming, plus N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-An excellent, N3310/ AI-An effective, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and N3314/ AI-E. It Spitfire is suitable which have strobe lighting on the machine-gun slots and you can try flown having all in all, 125 days throughout the shooting. Inside the Oct 1968 it actually was dependent on Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to definitely few days was applied during the filming bail-aside shots at Netheravon Wiltshire. One of several movie tool pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 for the completion of its film requirements therefore are dismantled in the Bovingdon by Simpson’s Aeroservices getting shipments so you’re able to Houston, Tx, where it found its way to January 1969.
