To the reason for the film a giant Mix of Lorraine emblem was applied for the routes to depict new 100 % free French squadron
Within the June 1956 MH415 try sold so you can good Belgian providers, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a target-towing contract with the Belgian and NATO forces. COGEA got in the past operate various light aircraft pulling ads and you may comparable, nevertheless when this new army target pulling deal emerged, this new Percival Proctors these people were having fun with did not have the efficiency called for. The newest Belgian Air Forces last few Spitfires provided the best possibility, and you can COGEA ordered half dozen of these to run because of their army price. Period photos let you know the flights inside the a bare aluminum livery having eco-friendly nosecone and you may end. Within the 1961 it was rented to possess flick use in The latest Longest Date, which had been shot on location for the France.
On 14th Get MH415 turned up with the movie unit within RAF North Weald for the Essex, and are later on based at the Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge
The latest aircraft was painted when you look at the an effective camouflage scheme and you will flown that have 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron codes GW-Roentgen. Inside the Sep 1961 brand new aircraft brought about a blend by lookin during the the latest RAF Battle out-of The uk sky monitor at the Biggin Hill inside the livery from the Longest Time, flown from the Pierre Laureys, a beneficial French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It is understood that MH415 are the last airworthy Spitfire to help you getting marketed by the COGEA, and it is believed that it absolutely was at the Ostend given that later because December 1964. MH415 is bought out-of COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation out-of Dinhard in France, toward amount of 8, 000 francs for the ish Mahaddie is get together with her aircraft on certain motion picture The battle regarding Britain, and shortly after a survey because of the John Simpson, MH415 is bought for a keen undisclosed sum.
This new routes is actually dismantled and you may sent of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd during the Elstree getting a redesign, registered G-AVDJ, to Mahaddie on 29th December 1966. It actually was shot flown and you can taken to the film unit in the RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 from the T An effective Davies. The brand new aircraft is stored, its Merlin 66 motor restricted, throughout the most of 1967, plus it wasn’t flown again until November, in the event it received a different sort of Certificate away from Airworthiness, are shot flown on 29th of these day of the T A beneficial Davies during the Henlow. In early 1968 filming had started in Spain, and also as a good Spitfire try needed for area functions, MH415 is actually selected and you will waiting within Henlow and you will Luton. A beneficial ninety-gallon shed-container is fitted and various shot aircraft carried out during February from the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough because of the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.
For the late March MH415 kept the uk, flying through France so you can Tablada Sky Foot during the The country of spain. Because of it a lot of time trip it absolutely was flown by the V H Bellamy. Film venue become N3312/ AI-C implemented for the Spain, flown however Reinach prostitute number from the Lt Cdr Hynett. New Spitfire the brand new arrived back into The united kingdomt within Manston with the 11th Will get 1968, for the providers which have a bunch out-of Messerschmitts, a couple Heinkels and you may Jeff Hawke inside the a b-twenty-five digital camera-boat. The elements when you look at the 1968 is typically United kingdom, together with flick business was indeed running out of date. Loans has also been causing difficulties, that it try made a decision to disperse the aerial product with the a great weather of Southern area out of France.
MH415 and you will a number of other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts was indeed flown off to Montpelier in August for three months, in addition to required footage was acquired in the sunshine. MH415 used of numerous marks throughout shooting, including N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-Good, N3310/ AI-An effective, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. So it Spitfire are fitting with strobe bulbs throughout the machine gun ports and is actually flown for a total of 125 days during shooting. When you look at the October 1968 it was based on Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely times was used during the filming bail-out images within Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the film unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, obtained MH415 for the end of its flick duties also it was dismantled during the Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices to possess shipments to help you Houston, Texas, where they arrived in January 1969.