Towards reason for the film a huge Mix out-of Lorraine emblem was utilized toward aircraft so you’re able to portray the 100 % free French squadron

Into the Summer 1956 MH415 was offered to a Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a target-towing offer on Belgian and you can NATO pushes. COGEA got prior to now manage individuals light routes pulling ads and comparable, but when the new military target towing deal emerged, the fresh new Percival Proctors they certainly were having fun with did not have the fresh abilities needed. The brand new Belgian Air Pushes last couple of Spitfires offered the best chance, and you will COGEA purchased half dozen ones to perform due to their military offer. Months photo show the new aircraft within the a bare aluminium livery which have green nosecone and tail. When you look at the 1961 it actually was hired getting film include in The fresh escort Geneva review Longest Time, which had been filmed on location inside the France.

To the 14th Get MH415 arrived with the film equipment from the RAF Northern Weald into the Essex, and you can try afterwards established from the Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge

The brand new aircraft is actually painted in the good camouflage system and you will flown which have 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron requirements GW-R. When you look at the Sep 1961 the fresh new routes caused a stir from the lookin at the the newest RAF Competition out of Great britain air monitor during the Biggin Mountain inside its livery regarding Longest Big date, flown by the Pierre Laureys, a great French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is realized one to MH415 are the past airworthy Spitfire to help you feel offered of the COGEA, and it is thought that it had been at Ostend because late given that December 1964. MH415 is actually bought out-of COGEA from the Rousseau Aviation from Dinhard within the France, for the amount of 8, 000 francs on ish Mahaddie try event together with her routes into the forthcoming film The battle regarding Great britain, and after a survey by John Simpson, MH415 are purchased getting a keen undisclosed sum.

The fresh new flights is actually dismantled and mailed by Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree to have an overhaul, joined G-AVDJ, so you’re able to Mahaddie into the 29th December 1966. It absolutely was decide to try flown and delivered to the film product from the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 by the T A Davies. New flights try held, the Merlin 66 engine inhibited, throughout a lot of 1967, therefore was not flown again up to November, if it received an alternative Certification regarding Airworthiness, are take to flown into the 29th of this few days from the T A great Davies at Henlow. At the beginning of 1968 filming had were only available in The country of spain, and as a Spitfire are necessary for area functions, MH415 was chosen and you may waiting during the Henlow and you can Luton. An effective ninety-gallon shed-tank are fitted as well as other try routes achieved during the February from the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough by the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.

Inside late February MH415 remaining the united kingdom, flying through France so you’re able to Tablada Air Base during the The country of spain. Because of it much time trip it actually was flown of the V H Bellamy. Film place behave as N3312/ AI-C then followed during the Spain, flown in the primary of the Lt Cdr Hynett. Brand new Spitfire the newest arrived back to The united kingdomt in the Manston with the 11th Could possibly get 1968, during the business which have a bunch regarding Messerschmitts, one or two Heinkels and you may Jeff Hawke inside a-b-25 camera-boat. Sun and rain inside the 1968 is actually generally Uk, plus the movie organization have been not having enough big date. Fund has also been ultimately causing difficulties, this are chose to circulate the fresh aerial product on the an excellent weather of Southern area out of France.

MH415 and you may a great many other Spitfires and several Messerschmitts was flown out to Montpelier in the August for three months, therefore the requisite footage is gotten in the sun. MH415 wore of many markings through the filming, and N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A great, N3310/ GoodI-Good, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. It Spitfire was installing that have strobe bulbs from the machine gun harbors and you can is actually flown having a total of 125 circumstances while in the shooting. In the October 1968 it absolutely was created in the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to day was utilized from inside the shooting bail-away photos at the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 on completion of the motion picture commitments also it was dismantled within Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices getting distribution in order to Houston, Colorado, in which it arrived in January 1969.