The brand new Spitfire was delivered to the COGEA base from the Middlekerke, Ostend, in which it was entered OO-ARD, and very quickly entered solution

Towards the reason for the film a big Get across regarding Lorraine emblem was used to the routes to help you depict the fresh Free French squadron

When you look at the June 1956 MH415 is actually sold in order to a great Belgian business, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a goal-towing package with the Belgian and NATO forces. COGEA had in the past operated individuals light aircraft towing banners and you can equivalent, but when the new armed forces address towing package emerged, the newest Percival Proctors they were using didn’t have the new efficiency requisite. The fresh new Belgian Heavens Forces last couple of Spitfires considering the perfect chance, and COGEA purchased half a dozen of those to run for their army deal. Several months photo reveal the newest routes in the a blank aluminum livery which have green nosecone and you will end. Inside 1961 it absolutely was rented to have movie use in Brand new Longest Day, which was filmed on location inside the France.

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Into 14th Could possibly get MH415 showed up with the motion picture device in the RAF North Weald when you look at the Essex, and you can are after oriented within Debden, Duxford and Hawkinge

Brand new aircraft was decorated in the good camouflage plan and you can flown which have 340 (Ile de france) Squadron codes GW-Roentgen. Inside the Sep 1961 the fresh new aircraft caused a stir from the appearing on brand new RAF Battle out of Great britain sky display screen within Biggin Hill from inside the their livery from the Longest Date, flown of the Pierre Laureys, a good French World war ii Spitfire pilot. It is know one MH415 is the final airworthy Spitfire in order to end up being offered by the COGEA, and is also believed that it had been in the Ostend because later while the December 1964. MH415 is actually bought out of COGEA of the Rousseau Aviation regarding Dinhard inside France, on sum of 8, 000 francs into ish Mahaddie was collecting together aircraft toward impending motion picture The fight regarding Britain, and you will immediately following a survey because of the John Simpson, MH415 is purchased to own a keen undisclosed contribution.

The brand new routes was dismantled and you will shipped by the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd on Elstree getting a redesign, inserted G-AVDJ, to Mahaddie towards the 29th December 1966. It had been sample flown and you may brought to the movie unit from the RAF Henlow during the early 1967 from the T A Davies. The latest aircraft try stored, the Merlin 66 motor restricted, throughout the a lot of 1967, plus it was not flown once more up until November, if it received an alternative Certification regarding Airworthiness, becoming shot flown towards 29th of this month because of the T An excellent Davies on Henlow. At the beginning of 1968 shooting had were only available in The country of spain, so when good Spitfire was required for area works, MH415 are picked and you will waiting in the Henlow and you can Luton. A beneficial 90-gallon shed-tank are fitting and various try routes accomplished during March in the Henlow, Luton and you can Farnborough by the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.

In the later March MH415 kept the united kingdom, traveling thru France to Tablada Heavens Foot during the Spain. Because of it a lot of time flight it had been flown because of the V H Bellamy. Movie area work as N3312/ AI-C accompanied in Spain, flown however by the Lt Cdr Hynett. New Spitfire the brand new turned up into England at the Manston towards 11th Can get 1968, into the providers which have a gaggle from Messerschmitts, one or two Heinkels and you will Jeff Hawke during the a b-twenty-five cam-ship. The current weather in the 1968 are generally speaking United kingdom, therefore the movie team were running out of day. Funds has also been ultimately causing trouble, so it is actually made a decision to move this new aerial product for the a great weather of your own South out-of France.

MH415 and you may a number of other Spitfires and many Messerschmitts was basically flown off to Montpelier inside the August for three weeks, additionally the expected video footage is gotten in the sun. MH415 dressed in many scars while in the shooting, in addition to N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-M, N2210/ CD-A beneficial, N3310/ An effectiveI-A great, N3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you can N3314/ AI-Age. This Spitfire are suitable that have strobe bulbs on machine-gun slots and try flown to own a maximum of 125 era while in the shooting. In the Oct 1968 it absolutely was created at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely day was used within the shooting bail-out photos during the Netheravon Wiltshire. Among the movie equipment pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, obtained MH415 with the conclusion of the motion picture requirements and it also are dismantled at Bovingdon because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices to have delivery so you can Houston, Colorado, in which they found its way to January 1969.