Into purposes of the film a large Get across from Lorraine emblem was utilized with the flights in order to represent the fresh 100 % free French squadron
During the Summer 1956 MH415 is marketed so you’re able to an effective Belgian organization, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had an objective-pulling bargain on the Belgian and you may NATO forces. COGEA got in earlier times operated certain light routes pulling ads and you can similar, however when the fresh armed forces target pulling offer came up, this new Percival Proctors these were having fun with did not have new performance necessary. The Belgian Sky Pushes last few Spitfires considering the best possibility, and you can COGEA ordered half a dozen ones to operate because of their army price. Period pictures inform you the fresh new routes inside the a blank aluminium livery having green nosecone and you will tail. In 1961 it actually was hired to possess movie use in The newest Longest Big date, that was recorded on location when you look at the France.
With the 14th May MH415 showed up to your movie device from the RAF Northern Weald inside Essex, and try later created from the Debden, Duxford and you will Hawkinge
The fresh new flights was decorated for the good camouflage scheme and flown that have 340 (Ile de france) Squadron requirements GW-Roentgen. Into the September 1961 the brand new routes triggered a blend from the lookin at brand new RAF Race away from Britain air display screen at the Biggin Mountain during the the livery regarding the Longest Big date, flown from the Pierre Laureys, an effective French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is knew you to definitely MH415 try the very last airworthy Spitfire to end up being offered from the COGEA, and it is considered that it was during the Ostend because the later because December 1964. MH415 is actually bought of COGEA by the Rousseau Aviation away from Dinhard for the France, into sum of 8, 000 francs for the ish Mahaddie is get together together with her routes with the impending film The battle regarding The uk, and you may immediately after a survey by John Simpson, MH415 are bought to have a keen undisclosed contribution.
The newest aircraft is actually dismantled and you will mailed by the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd during the Elstree to own a redesign, inserted G-AVDJ, to Mahaddie into the 29th December 1966. It actually was test flown and delivered to the film product on RAF Henlow in early 1967 by T A Davies. New aircraft was kept, the Merlin 66 engine restricted, during the a lot of 1967, plus it wasn’t flown again up until November, in the event it gotten another Certificate out of Airworthiness, getting take to flown for the 29th of the week by the T A Davies in the Henlow. At the beginning of 1968 shooting had started in Spain, and also as good Spitfire is actually necessary for area work, MH415 is chosen and you may wishing during the Henlow and Luton. A great ninety-gallon drop-tank was installing and different shot aircraft achieved throughout February in the Henlow, Luton and you may Farnborough by Lt Cdr M T Hynett.
Into the late March MH415 left the uk, traveling through France to help you Tablada Air Ft from inside the The country of spain. For it long flight it absolutely was flown by V H Bellamy. Motion picture venue act as N3312/ AI-C observed in the Spain, flown however because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. This new Spitfire this new turned up back in The united kingdomt from the Manston on 11th Could possibly get 1968, during the providers with a bunch of Messerschmitts, one or two Heinkels and you will Jeff Hawke during the a b-twenty five digital camera-motorboat. The current weather inside 1968 is actually typically Uk, additionally the film team have been not having enough time. Finance was also resulting in difficulties, that it is chose to flow brand new aerial device into the an effective weather of your own Southern area from France.
MH415 and many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts have been flown off to Montpelier inside August for three months, as well as the expected video footage are obtained in the sunshine. MH415 wore many scars during the filming, in addition to N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-An excellent, N3310/ A greatI-A great, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. So it Spitfire try fitted having strobe lights regarding machine-gun ports and you may try flown having a maximum of 125 hours through the filming. In October 1968 it actually was situated at the Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after one to few days was utilized within the shooting bail-out photos in the Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many motion picture unit pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, acquired MH415 toward end of the flick obligations also it are dismantled in the Bovingdon by Simpson’s Aeroservices for delivery to Houston, Colorado, where it arrived in January 1969.