Toward reason for the movie a massive Cross regarding Lorraine emblem was applied towards aircraft to represent the newest Totally free French squadron
When you look at the Summer 1956 MH415 is actually offered so you’re able to a beneficial Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a goal-towing bargain toward Belgian and you can NATO pushes. COGEA had before operated some light routes pulling banners and equivalent, but when brand new armed forces target towing price emerged, the Percival Proctors these were having fun with didn’t have this new overall performance expected. The latest Belgian Air Forces last few Spitfires offered the best opportunity, and you can COGEA ordered six ones to run because of their military package. Period photo reveal brand new flights inside the a bare aluminium livery with environmentally friendly nosecone and you will tail. Inside 1961 it had been leased to own motion picture use in The latest Longest Time, which was shot on site in France.
To the 14th May MH415 showed up on movie device on RAF North Weald from inside the Essex, and you will are afterwards based at Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge
The brand new routes is actually coated in the a good camouflage system and you may flown with 340 (Ile de france) Squadron requirements GW-Roentgen. During the September 1961 the fresh flights brought about a blend by the lookin from the the brand new RAF Race from The uk heavens display from the Biggin Hill for the the livery on Longest Date, flown of the Pierre Laureys, an excellent French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It is know one to MH415 are the past airworthy Spitfire to become offered because of the COGEA, and it is believed that it absolutely was at the Ostend as the later just like the December 1964. MH415 are purchased out-of COGEA because of the Rousseau Aviation out of Dinhard hooker in Lucerne inside France, towards sum of 8, 000 francs to the ish Mahaddie try gathering together with her flights toward certain movie The fight away from Britain, and once a survey by the John Simpson, MH415 was bought having an enthusiastic undisclosed contribution.
The fresh new aircraft is dismantled and you may mailed of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd from the Elstree for an overhaul, registered Grams-AVDJ, in order to Mahaddie towards 29th December 1966. It had been shot flown and you may brought to the film equipment during the RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 because of the T An excellent Davies. This new flights was kept, their Merlin 66 motor inhibited, while in the a lot of 1967, therefore wasn’t flown once more up until November, if this obtained an alternative Certificate away from Airworthiness, becoming shot flown for the 29th of the week from the T A great Davies at Henlow. During the early 1968 shooting got started in The country of spain, and as a good Spitfire try required for location works, MH415 try chose and you may waiting during the Henlow and you may Luton. Good 90-gallon miss-container is fitted and different try flights achieved throughout February at the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough from the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.
From inside the late March MH415 kept great britain, flying through France in order to Tablada Heavens Feet during the Spain. Because of it long airline it had been flown by V H Bellamy. Flick place become N3312/ AI-C then followed in the Spain, flown in the main by the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh Spitfire the turned up back to England from the Manston towards the 11th Get 1968, during the providers with a bunch off Messerschmitts, one or two Heinkels and you may Jeff Hawke for the a-b-twenty-five camera-boat. Sun and rain inside 1968 try generally speaking Uk, while the movie providers had been running out of time. Funds has also been resulting in difficulties, that it was decided to move this new aerial tool into the a great environment of your Southern area out of France.
MH415 and you will a great many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts were flown out to Montpelier within the August for a few months, together with needed video footage is acquired under the sun. MH415 wore of a lot scars throughout the shooting, as well as N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A great, N3310/ AI-Good, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. That it Spitfire is fitting having strobe bulbs regarding machine-gun ports and you can was flown to own a maximum of 125 circumstances throughout the filming. When you look at the October 1968 it was mainly based in the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later one times was utilized inside the shooting bail-away shots in the Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the flick unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, acquired MH415 to your conclusion of the movie duties and it also is dismantled during the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices to possess distribution to help you Houston, Texas, in which they found its way to January 1969.
