For the reason for the film a massive Mix regarding Lorraine emblem was applied towards flights so you’re able to represent the fresh new Free French squadron

Within the Summer 1956 MH415 are marketed in order to an excellent Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a target-towing deal to the Belgian and NATO pushes. COGEA had prior to now run various white flights pulling ads and you can comparable, nevertheless when the fresh new military target towing bargain emerged, the new Percival Proctors they were having fun with did not have the fresh show expected. The new Belgian Sky Forces last couple of Spitfires provided the perfect options, and COGEA bought six ones to perform because of their armed forces price. Months pictures let you know brand new aircraft from inside the a bare aluminium livery with eco-friendly nosecone and you may end. In the 1961 it actually was rented for flick use in The Longest Day, which was recorded on site during the France.

Toward 14th Will get MH415 showed up into motion picture device within RAF Northern Weald in the Essex, and you can was later oriented from the Debden, Duxford and you will Hawkinge

The latest aircraft was painted for the good camouflage plan and you may flown having 340 (Ile de france) Squadron codes GW-Roentgen. In the September 1961 the fresh aircraft triggered a stir of the looking from the new RAF Competition off The uk sky display screen at Biggin Mountain when you look at the its livery regarding the Longest Go out, flown from the Pierre Laureys, a great French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It’s know that MH415 is the final airworthy Spitfire so you can end up being marketed because of the COGEA, and Muttenz whores is also considered that it absolutely was during the Ostend because late just like the December 1964. MH415 is actually bought regarding COGEA because of the Rousseau Aviation from Dinhard for the France, to your sum of 8, 000 francs towards the ish Mahaddie was event together with her routes on the certain flick The battle of Great britain, and you can after a survey of the John Simpson, MH415 are ordered to have a keen undisclosed sum.

This new aircraft is actually dismantled and you may sent from the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd in the Elstree to own an overhaul, entered Grams-AVDJ, so you’re able to Mahaddie towards 29th December 1966. It actually was try flown and you may brought to the film product at the RAF Henlow in early 1967 of the T An effective Davies. Brand new flights was held, its Merlin 66 engine inhibited, during much of 1967, plus it was not flown once again until November, if this got a unique Certificate out of Airworthiness, being sample flown toward 29th of the few days by T A great Davies on Henlow. In early 1968 filming got started in Spain, so that as good Spitfire is required for place really works, MH415 are picked and you will waiting in the Henlow and Luton. A ninety-gallon miss-tank is suitable as well as other take to flights accomplished through the February from the Henlow, Luton and Farnborough by the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.

Within the later March MH415 leftover great britain, flying through France so you’re able to Tablada Air Feet in the The country of spain. For it a lot of time airline it was flown from the V H Bellamy. Motion picture venue act as N3312/ AI-C then followed from inside the Spain, flown in the primary because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh Spitfire the new turned up back to England at the Manston towards 11th Get 1968, within the providers with a bunch regarding Messerschmitts, several Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke within the a b-twenty five cam-ship. The weather in 1968 is usually Uk, while the motion picture providers had been not having enough day. Loans was also leading to troubles, that it is chose to disperse the brand new aerial tool towards the a good climate of your Southern regarding France.

MH415 and many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts have been flown out over Montpelier in the August for a few months, therefore the requisite footage is acquired under the sun. MH415 used of a lot scars through the shooting, along with N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-A, N3310/ A goodI-A great, Letter3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and N3314/ AI-E. Which Spitfire try fitting which have strobe bulbs on machine-gun ports and you can is flown getting all in all, 125 days while in the shooting. Inside the October 1968 it had been founded within Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to definitely month was utilized during the filming bail-away shots at Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the many motion picture product pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 towards end of its flick responsibilities also it was dismantled during the Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices to own distribution in order to Houston, Colorado, in which they found its way to January 1969.