Into the reason for the film a massive Cross regarding Lorraine emblem was utilized toward routes so you’re able to represent brand new Totally free French squadron
In the June 1956 MH415 is actually ended up selling in order to an effective Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a goal-towing deal for the Belgian and you may NATO pushes. COGEA had prior to now work some white flights pulling ads and you will equivalent, but when this new armed forces address pulling offer emerged, the brand new Percival Proctors they certainly were using didn’t have brand new show requisite. The fresh new Belgian Heavens Forces last couple of Spitfires given the perfect options, and you may COGEA purchased six of them to perform due to their army deal. Several months pictures inform you this new routes from inside the a bare aluminium livery having environmentally friendly nosecone and tail. When you look at the 1961 it was hired to own film use in The latest Longest Time, which had been recorded on location inside the France.
For the 14th Can get MH415 turned up for the flick equipment at RAF Northern Weald in the Essex, and you can is actually later on based from the Debden, Duxford and you may Hawkinge
The brand new routes is painted in a camouflage design and flown which have 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron requirements GW-Roentgen. Within the September 1961 the brand new flights caused a blend because of the searching from the the fresh RAF Battle of The uk air display screen from the Biggin Mountain from inside the their livery regarding the Longest Date, flown because of the Pierre Laureys, an excellent French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s knew that MH415 is actually the last airworthy Spitfire so you can become ended up selling by COGEA, and it is believed that it actually was within Ostend because the later given that December 1964. MH415 was ordered regarding COGEA from the Rousseau Aviation off Dinhard during the France, into sum of 8, 000 francs towards ish Mahaddie is collecting with her routes into the forthcoming movie The battle of Britain, and you may just after a survey because of the John Simpson, MH415 is actually purchased to own an undisclosed sum.
The newest routes is dismantled and you may sent by Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd from the Elstree to have an overhaul, inserted Grams-AVDJ, so you’re able to Mahaddie to your 29th December 1966. It absolutely was decide to try flown and you can delivered to the movie tool from the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 by the T A good Davies. The newest flights is stored, the Merlin 66 system restricted, during the much of 1967, and it also wasn’t flown once more up until November, if it obtained an alternative Certification out of Airworthiness, are test flown for the 29th of the times by the T An effective Davies from the Henlow. In early 1968 shooting had started in Spain, and also as a great Spitfire is actually you’ll need for place performs, MH415 is actually chosen and you can waiting at Henlow and Luton. An excellent 90-gallon get rid of-container is suitable and various shot flights achieved while in the March at Henlow, Luton and you will Farnborough of the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.
Inside the later March MH415 kept great britain, flying via France in order to Tablada Air Ft inside The country of spain. For this enough time airline it had been flown from the V H Bellamy. Motion picture area act as N3312/ AI-C then followed into the Spain, flown however of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The latest Spitfire the newest turned up into England at the Manston to the 11th Get 1968, into the business which have a gaggle regarding Messerschmitts, several Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke into the a b-twenty-five cam-motorboat. Sun and rain within the 1968 are generally speaking Uk, and movie team was indeed not having enough go out. Money was also ultimately causing difficulties, this was decided to disperse the newest aerial equipment towards the an effective climate of one’s South off France.
MH415 and many other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts was in fact flown out to Montpelier inside August for three months, and expected footage is actually received in the sun. MH415 used of a lot marks during shooting, as well as N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A, N3310/ An excellentI-An effective, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-E. So it Spitfire is actually fitted with strobe lights throughout the machine gun ports and you may was flown to possess a total of 125 period through the shooting. Inside Oct 1968 it actually was built in the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to definitely day was used during the filming bail-aside shots in the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many flick unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, received MH415 to the completion of its flick duties and it is dismantled within Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices for delivery to Houston, Tx, where it found its way to January 1969.