Into the purposes of the film a giant Mix away from Lorraine emblem was used into the routes in order to show brand new Totally free French squadron
Within the Summer 1956 MH415 was ended up selling to help you an effective Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had an objective-pulling package on the Belgian and you can NATO forces. COGEA had in earlier times work individuals light aircraft towing ads and you will similar, nevertheless when the fresh new armed forces target pulling offer emerged, the Percival Proctors they were having fun with did not have this new efficiency necessary. The fresh Belgian Heavens Pushes last couple of Spitfires considering the perfect opportunity, and you may COGEA bought six of those to operate because of their army bargain. Months pictures let you know the fresh new routes in the a clean aluminium livery with eco-friendly nosecone and you can tail. In 1961 it was leased having motion picture use in Brand new Longest Go out, which was recorded on site within the France.
On 14th Will get MH415 showed up into flick unit from the RAF Northern Weald from inside the Essex, and you may is later on based in the Debden, Duxford and you may Hawkinge
The fresh new routes was coated during the a camouflage scheme and you may flown which have 340 (Ile de france) Squadron rules GW-R. From inside the September 1961 the newest aircraft triggered a stir by the appearing in the the RAF Race of Great britain sky monitor from the Biggin Mountain inside the its livery on Longest Day, flown of the Pierre Laureys, a French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It is understood one MH415 are the very last airworthy Spitfire in order to become offered because of the COGEA, and it is believed that it absolutely was at Ostend due to the fact late once the December 1964. MH415 are purchased of COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in France, to the amount of 8, 000 francs into ish Mahaddie try meeting together aircraft to the forthcoming motion picture The fight regarding The uk, and you may just after a study because of the John Simpson, MH415 is bought to have an undisclosed share.
This new aircraft is actually dismantled and you may mailed by Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree to possess a redesign, entered Grams-AVDJ, to Mahaddie towards 29th December 1966. It actually escortlook.de proceed the link was try flown and you will delivered to the film tool at the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 by T A Davies. Brand new flights is actually stored, the Merlin 66 engine inhibited, through the a lot of 1967, therefore wasn’t flown once more until November, whether it obtained a unique Certificate of Airworthiness, getting sample flown to the 29th of these few days by the T An excellent Davies at Henlow. In early 1968 shooting had were only available in The country of spain, and as a good Spitfire is actually required for place really works, MH415 is chosen and you can wishing at Henlow and you will Luton. An excellent 90-gallon get rid of-tank is suitable and various attempt routes carried out during the February on Henlow, Luton and Farnborough because of the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.
Inside late March MH415 leftover great britain, flying via France so you’re able to Tablada Heavens Legs within the The country of spain. For it a lot of time trip it actually was flown because of the V H Bellamy. Motion picture location work as N3312/ AI-C used inside the Spain, flown however of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh Spitfire the new showed up back in The united kingdomt from the Manston into 11th Could possibly get 1968, when you look at the business that have a bunch away from Messerschmitts, a couple of Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke within the a b-twenty-five camera-ship. The sun and rain inside the 1968 are typically Uk, and also the film team was not having enough date. Loans has also been causing difficulties, it was decided to disperse this new aerial tool for the a good environment of one’s South out-of France.
MH415 and a great many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts was flown over to Montpelier when you look at the August for three months, and also the needed video footage are received in the sunshine. MH415 dressed in of many marks during the filming, as well as N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-An excellent, N3310/ An effectiveI-A great, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you will N3314/ AI-E. It Spitfire is fitting that have strobe lights in the machine gun harbors and you may is actually flown having a total of 125 circumstances throughout filming. In the October 1968 it had been oriented within Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after that day was utilized inside the filming bail-aside photos at the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 to the conclusion of the movie responsibilities and it also are dismantled during the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices to own shipments to help you Houston, Texas, where it arrived in January 1969.