Towards purposes of the film a large Get across of Lorraine emblem was applied on aircraft so you’re able to portray the new 100 % free French squadron

During the June 1956 MH415 try sold so you’re able to a Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a goal-pulling deal on the Belgian and you may NATO pushes. COGEA had before manage individuals white routes pulling ads and equivalent, but when the brand new armed forces address towing offer emerged, this new Percival Proctors they were using did not have the new show requisite. Brand new Belgian Sky Forces last few Spitfires given the best options, and COGEA bought half a dozen of these to operate because of their military package. Several months photo reveal the newest aircraft when you look at the a clean aluminium livery that have green nosecone and tail. During the 1961 it was leased to possess movie include in The Longest Big date, which was filmed on site during the France.

On the 14th Can get MH415 showed up for the film unit from the RAF Northern Weald for the Essex, and you can are after centered within Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge

Brand new flights is actually painted during the an excellent camouflage strategy and you will flown having 340 (Ile de france) Squadron rules GW-R. Inside the September 1961 the newest routes caused a blend because of the looking at new RAF Competition of The uk air display within Biggin Slope during the the livery in the Longest Go out, flown because of the Pierre Laureys, a beneficial French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is know you to MH415 was the final airworthy Spitfire to feel ended up selling from the COGEA, and is considered that it had been from the Ostend because late as the December 1964. MH415 are purchased from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation regarding Dinhard into the France, toward amount of 8, 000 francs into the ish Mahaddie was meeting along with her routes into imminent film The battle out-of The uk, and you may after a survey of the John Simpson, MH415 is actually bought to own a keen undisclosed sum.

The latest routes is dismantled and you can shipped by the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd within Elstree having a change, entered Grams-AVDJ, so you can Mahaddie on the 29th December 1966. It had been sample flown and brought to the movie tool within RAF Henlow in early 1967 from the T An effective Davies. The latest aircraft was held, their Merlin 66 motor restricted, during much of 1967, also it wasn’t flown again up until November, in the event it gotten a new Certificate out-of Airworthiness, being decide to try flown towards 29th of these few days because of the T A beneficial Davies escortlook.de pop over to these guys during the Henlow. In early 1968 filming had started in Spain, so when a good Spitfire are required for location functions, MH415 is picked and you will prepared at the Henlow and Luton. A 90-gallon lose-container is fitted and various try aircraft carried out throughout February at Henlow, Luton and you may Farnborough from the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.

In the late March MH415 leftover great britain, flying through France to Tablada Heavens Ft inside the The country of spain. For it long journey it actually was flown from the V H Bellamy. Movie venue act as N3312/ AI-C then followed in the Spain, flown however because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The newest Spitfire the fresh new arrived back into England on Manston with the 11th May 1968, in the company having a gaggle off Messerschmitts, several Heinkels and you will Jeff Hawke for the a-b-twenty five digital camera-motorboat. The sun and rain in 1968 is generally speaking British, in addition to film team was running out of date. Fund has also been leading to trouble, which are made a decision to flow the fresh new aerial unit into an excellent environment of Southern area regarding France.

MH415 and you will many other Spitfires and lots of Messerschmitts had been flown off to Montpelier during the August for three days, while the needed video footage try acquired under the sun. MH415 dressed in of a lot markings during the shooting, in addition to N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-A good, N3310/ AI-An effective, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you can N3314/ AI-Age. Which Spitfire is actually fitted having strobe lights on the machine gun ports and you may is flown for all in all, 125 era throughout the filming. During the Oct 1968 it absolutely was centered at the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to month was utilized inside the filming bail-out shots at the Netheravon Wiltshire. Among film tool pilots, Texan Wilson ‚Connie‘ Edwards, gotten MH415 towards conclusion of its motion picture duties plus it try dismantled from the Bovingdon of the Simpson’s Aeroservices to have shipment so you’re able to Houston, Colorado, in which it found its way to January 1969.