For the purposes of the film a massive Get across regarding Lorraine emblem was applied towards the aircraft in order escort Steffisburg to represent brand new Totally free French squadron
When you look at the June 1956 MH415 is ended up selling so you can a Belgian team, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a goal-pulling contract on Belgian and you may NATO forces. COGEA had prior to now operated individuals white aircraft pulling banners and you will comparable, but once the latest military target pulling offer came up, the brand new Percival Proctors these were playing with didn’t have the latest efficiency called for. The new Belgian Heavens Forces last couple of Spitfires given the ideal possibility, and COGEA bought half dozen ones to run because of their army deal. Period photo reveal new aircraft within the a blank aluminium livery having green nosecone and you may end. From inside the 1961 it had been leased for film use in The brand new Longest Time, which had been filmed on location in the France.
For the 14th Could possibly get MH415 turned up into film equipment within RAF Northern Weald within the Essex, and you can try later on created within Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge
The latest routes is coated into the a camouflage system and flown with 340 (Ile de france) Squadron requirements GW-R. For the Sep 1961 the brand new flights brought about a stir by appearing during the the latest RAF Battle out of The uk heavens display screen at Biggin Mountain from inside the its livery from the Longest Time, flown from the Pierre Laureys, good French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s know one MH415 are the final airworthy Spitfire so you can end up being marketed by the COGEA, and is thought that it actually was on Ostend given that late since the December 1964. MH415 is actually bought out of COGEA by Rousseau Aviation out of Dinhard inside France, into the sum of 8, 000 francs toward ish Mahaddie is get together together with her routes with the imminent movie The fight of The uk, and you will after a study of the John Simpson, MH415 try purchased to possess an enthusiastic undisclosed contribution.
The aircraft are dismantled and you can sent of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd from the Elstree having an overhaul, joined Grams-AVDJ, so you’re able to Mahaddie towards 29th December 1966. It had been take to flown and you will brought to the film equipment during the RAF Henlow in early 1967 because of the T A beneficial Davies. The fresh new flights was kept, their Merlin 66 system restricted, throughout the most of 1967, therefore wasn’t flown once again up until November, whether it obtained a unique Certificate from Airworthiness, becoming shot flown into 29th of these month of the T Good Davies on Henlow. During the early 1968 filming got started in The country of spain, and also as a Spitfire are required for area really works, MH415 are chose and you can waiting at the Henlow and Luton. A beneficial 90-gallon lose-container is fitted and various decide to try routes carried out throughout February at Henlow, Luton and Farnborough by the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.
During the late February MH415 remaining the united kingdom, traveling via France so you’re able to Tablada Sky Feet when you look at the The country of spain. Because of it much time trip it absolutely was flown by V H Bellamy. Flick area behave as N3312/ AI-C used in the Spain, flown in the primary from the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh new Spitfire this new showed up back in The united kingdomt at Manston towards the 11th May 1968, in the organization having a bunch of Messerschmitts, a couple of Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke when you look at the a b-25 camera-ship. Sun and rain within the 1968 is typically Uk, therefore the flick company have been running out of go out. Loans has also been leading to dilemmas, it is made a decision to flow the fresh aerial device toward good weather of your own Southern area from France.
MH415 and you will many other Spitfires and lots of Messerschmitts were flown over to Montpelier inside the August for a few weeks, plus the expected video footage are received in the sunshine. MH415 dressed in of several markings during the shooting, and additionally N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-Good, N3310/ GoodI-An effective, N3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. Which Spitfire try installing having strobe lights regarding the machine-gun slots and is flown getting all in all, 125 hours during the shooting. From inside the October 1968 it was created during the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely day was applied into the filming bail-aside photos on Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the many flick unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 on the conclusion of the movie duties also it try dismantled from the Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices to own shipment so you can Houston, Texas, in which it arrived in January 1969.