Towards purposes of the film a massive Mix away from Lorraine emblem was used towards routes so you can represent the newest Free French squadron
In the June 1956 MH415 was marketed in order to a Belgian providers, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had an objective-towing contract for the Belgian and NATO forces. COGEA had prior to now work individuals light routes towing ads and you will similar, but once the fresh army target pulling price came up, the newest Percival Proctors these were using did not have the brand new results expected. The fresh Belgian Air Forces last few Spitfires considering the ideal possibility, and you may COGEA bought six of those to perform because of their military package. Period images inform you brand new routes when you look at the a blank aluminum livery that have eco-friendly nosecone and end. In 1961 it absolutely was hired to possess film include in The new Longest Time, which had been recorded on location in France.
To the 14th May MH415 arrived to your motion picture product on RAF North Weald from inside the Essex, and you may try later created in the Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge
The fresh aircraft is actually decorated when you look at the a beneficial camouflage strategy and flown having 340 (Ile de france) Squadron codes GW-Roentgen. For the September 1961 this new routes caused a stir of the lookin during the the new RAF Race out of Great britain sky display screen at the Biggin Hill within the the livery regarding the Longest Big date, flown by the Pierre Laureys, good French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is understood one MH415 are the very last airworthy Spitfire so you can end up being offered because of the COGEA, and it is thought that it was at the Ostend because later as the December 1964. MH415 try purchased away from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation from Dinhard inside France, on amount of 8, 000 francs for the ish Mahaddie was get together together with her routes towards impending film The battle out-of Great britain, and you may after a survey by John Simpson, MH415 was bought to own an undisclosed share.
The aircraft is dismantled and sent from the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree to possess a redesign, registered G-AVDJ, to help you Mahaddie toward 29th December 1966. It was shot flown and delivered to the film unit within RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 by the T An excellent Davies. The brand new flights is actually held, their Merlin 66 system inhibited, during most of 1967, also it wasn’t flown once more up until November, in the event it was given another type of Certificate out-of Airworthiness, being try flown on 29th of this day by T A good Davies from the Henlow. At the beginning of 1968 shooting got were only available in Spain, and also as good Spitfire try you’ll need for area functions, MH415 try selected and you will prepared at the Henlow and Luton. A good ninety-gallon miss-tank is installing and other sample aircraft carried out during February at Henlow, Luton and you will Farnborough by Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.
When you look at the late March MH415 kept great britain, flying via France so you can Tablada Air Legs inside The country of spain. Because of it long airline it had been flown by V H Bellamy. Motion picture area act as N3312/ AI-C observed when you look at the The country of spain, flown in the main because of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh Spitfire the escortlook.de resource brand new arrived into England in the Manston for the 11th May 1968, for the business that have a bunch from Messerschmitts, a couple Heinkels and you may Jeff Hawke inside a b-twenty-five camera-boat. The weather into the 1968 is usually United kingdom, additionally the movie providers have been running out of big date. Money has also been resulting in difficulties, it is actually chose to disperse new aerial device for the a great environment of the Southern off France.
MH415 and you will a great many other Spitfires and lots of Messerschmitts was flown out to Montpelier in August for three days, while the requisite video footage is gotten in the sun. MH415 wore of numerous marks throughout the shooting, also N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-An effective, N3310/ AI-A beneficial, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you will N3314/ AI-Age. So it Spitfire are suitable having strobe lights in the machine-gun ports and was flown having a total of 125 period during the shooting. Inside the Oct 1968 it had been centered at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after that times was used when you look at the shooting bail-away photos from the Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the many film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 for the completion of the movie duties therefore is dismantled during the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices to possess distribution to help you Houston, Tx, where it found its way to January 1969.
