Into the purposes of the film a massive Cross from Lorraine emblem was used into routes to represent the fresh new 100 % free French squadron

During the June 1956 MH415 are offered so you’re able to a Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a goal-towing price into the Belgian and NATO pushes. COGEA got in earlier times operate various light flights pulling ads and you may equivalent, nevertheless when the latest army address pulling contract emerged, new Percival Proctors they certainly were having fun with didn’t have the fresh new show necessary. This new Belgian Sky Pushes last few Spitfires provided the ideal chance, and you will COGEA ordered half dozen of them to perform because of their army offer. Months photo reveal new aircraft into the a blank aluminum livery with green nosecone and you can tail. When you look at the 1961 it had been leased to own film use in The Longest Time, that has been filmed on site inside the France.

With the 14th Could possibly get MH415 turned up into the motion picture equipment on RAF North Weald from inside the Essex, and you will are afterwards based at Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge

The flights try decorated inside the a great camouflage design and you will flown having 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron rules GW-Roentgen. When you look at the September 1961 the fresh aircraft caused a blend from the looking from the the newest RAF Battle out of Great britain heavens display screen from the Biggin Mountain from inside the the livery regarding Longest Big date, flown of the Pierre Laureys, a beneficial French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It is know that MH415 are the past airworthy Spitfire to help you getting offered by COGEA, and is thought that it absolutely was at Ostend because later since December 1964. MH415 try purchased off COGEA because of the Rousseau Aviation away from Dinhard inside France, towards the amount of 8, 000 francs towards ish Mahaddie try gathering together aircraft on imminent film The battle away from Britain, and you may once a survey by the John Simpson, MH415 are ordered having an enthusiastic undisclosed contribution.

New aircraft is dismantled and you will sent of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd in the Elstree for an overhaul, entered Grams-AVDJ, so you can Mahaddie to the 29th December 1966. It was attempt flown and you may delivered to Lucerne State escort guide the film tool on RAF Henlow in early 1967 because of the T A Davies. The newest aircraft is actually held, its Merlin 66 motor restricted, throughout the most of 1967, therefore was not flown again up to November, if this obtained an alternate Certification of Airworthiness, getting take to flown towards the 29th of the month by T A Davies in the Henlow. During the early 1968 filming had started in The country of spain, so that as an excellent Spitfire is actually you’ll need for area performs, MH415 is picked and wishing within Henlow and you can Luton. A great 90-gallon get rid of-container is suitable and various sample routes accomplished through the March at Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough from the Lt Cdr M T Hynett.

From inside the late March MH415 kept the united kingdom, flying through France so you’re able to Tablada Heavens Foot when you look at the Spain. Because of it enough time journey it had been flown by the V H Bellamy. Film place become N3312/ AI-C observed into the Spain, flown in the primary by the Lt Cdr Hynett. This new Spitfire the newest showed up back in The united kingdomt at the Manston towards 11th Can get 1968, during the business with a bunch out-of Messerschmitts, a couple of Heinkels and Jeff Hawke in the a b-twenty five digital camera-watercraft. The current weather in 1968 was usually Uk, and film providers was not having enough date. Funds was also ultimately causing dilemmas, that it is actually made a decision to disperse this new aerial tool for the an excellent climate of one’s Southern from France.

MH415 and you may many other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts was basically flown out over Montpelier when you look at the August for three weeks, together with needed video footage was obtained in the sunshine. MH415 used of a lot scars throughout the shooting, together with N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Meters, N2210/ CD-An effective, N3310/ An effectiveI-Good, N3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and you may N3314/ AI-Elizabeth. This Spitfire is actually suitable that have strobe bulbs from the machine-gun slots and is actually flown to own all in all, 125 hours throughout shooting. From inside the Oct 1968 it actually was depending within Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to definitely times was applied inside filming bail-away images at Netheravon Wiltshire. One of many film device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, obtained MH415 towards the conclusion of the film responsibilities also it was dismantled in the Bovingdon by the Simpson’s Aeroservices having shipping in order to Houston, Texas, in which it found its way to January 1969.