Into the reason for the film a giant Get across regarding Lorraine emblem was applied on flights to help you represent brand Vienna State escort new Totally free French squadron
Inside Summer 1956 MH415 was offered so you can a Belgian organization, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a target-pulling contract on the Belgian and you can NATO pushes. COGEA had in earlier times work certain light aircraft towing ads and you may comparable, however when the newest military address pulling offer emerged, new Percival Proctors they were having fun with did not have brand new overall performance expected. The fresh new Belgian Sky Pushes last few Spitfires offered just the right options, and you may COGEA ordered six of these to perform for their army price. Months pictures inform you the newest aircraft when you look at the a clean aluminium livery which have eco-friendly nosecone and you will tail. Within the 1961 it was hired to possess film use in The brand new Longest Date, that has been recorded on site within the France.
Into 14th Can get MH415 turned up for the flick unit in the RAF North Weald in Essex, and you can was later depending at Debden, Duxford and you may Hawkinge
The fresh new routes was coated into the an excellent camouflage design and flown with 340 (Ile de france) Squadron requirements GW-R. Inside September 1961 the flights brought about a stir from the appearing at the fresh RAF Competition away from Britain air display from the Biggin Hill inside their livery throughout the Longest Time, flown of the Pierre Laureys, an effective French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It is understood that MH415 are the past airworthy Spitfire so you’re able to getting ended up selling from the COGEA, and is also thought that it absolutely was on Ostend once the late as the December 1964. MH415 is bought out of COGEA of the Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in the France, towards the amount of 8, 000 francs with the ish Mahaddie are meeting together flights into the impending motion picture The battle of Great britain, and you will once a study because of the John Simpson, MH415 is actually bought to possess a keen undisclosed share.
The brand new routes is actually dismantled and you will shipped by Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree getting a change, joined G-AVDJ, in order to Mahaddie into 29th December 1966. It was attempt flown and taken to the film product in the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 of the T A great Davies. The fresh new aircraft are stored, its Merlin 66 motor restricted, during the much of 1967, therefore wasn’t flown once again until November, when it was given a unique Certificate regarding Airworthiness, becoming take to flown for the 29th of this month by T A Davies within Henlow. During the early 1968 shooting had were only available in The country of spain, so when an excellent Spitfire try you’ll need for area functions, MH415 is actually chosen and you will waiting from the Henlow and Luton. An effective ninety-gallon shed-tank is actually suitable as well as other sample routes carried out during February at the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough by the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.
Inside late February MH415 kept the united kingdom, traveling through France to Tablada Heavens Base during the Spain. For it much time flight it actually was flown of the V H Bellamy. Film venue work as N3312/ AI-C then followed for the Spain, flown however of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The new Spitfire the latest turned up back to England within Manston to your 11th Could possibly get 1968, inside the company which have a gaggle away from Messerschmitts, two Heinkels and Jeff Hawke within the a b-twenty-five cam-vessel. The sun and rain during the 1968 is actually generally speaking British, as well as the motion picture organization had been running out of big date. Loans was also leading to troubles, it was made a decision to circulate new aerial device with the an effective climate of your own Southern area of France.
MH415 and you can a great many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts was in fact flown out over Montpelier inside the August for a few months, therefore the expected video footage try obtained in the sun. MH415 dressed in of numerous marks throughout the filming, and additionally N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-An effective, N3310/ AI-A great, N3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you can N3314/ AI-E. Which Spitfire are fitting which have strobe lights on machine-gun slots and you will is actually flown to have a maximum of 125 circumstances through the shooting. When you look at the October 1968 it had been based at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely day was applied within the filming bail-away shots during the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many motion picture device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, obtained MH415 to your completion of the film commitments also it is actually dismantled at Bovingdon from the Simpson’s Aeroservices to have shipments so you can Houston, Colorado, where they found its way to January 1969.