Brand new Spitfire try brought to the fresh COGEA feet within Middlekerke, Ostend, in which it actually was entered OO-ARD, and very quickly entered solution

Brand new Spitfire try brought to the fresh COGEA feet within Middlekerke, Ostend, in which it actually was entered OO-ARD, and very quickly entered solution

To the reason for the movie a massive Mix from Lorraine emblem was utilized to the flights to help you show the brand new Free French squadron

Into the June 1956 MH415 is ended up selling to an effective Belgian organization, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which had a goal-pulling offer towards the Belgian and you may NATO pushes. COGEA had in earlier times operated individuals light aircraft pulling banners and you may similar, but once the latest military address towing package came up, new Percival Proctors they were having fun with did not have the fresh overall performance required. The Belgian Sky Forces last few Spitfires given just the right possibility, and COGEA ordered half dozen of them to run because of their armed forces bargain. Months photographs let you know new routes inside the a clean aluminium livery that have eco-friendly nosecone and you will tail. In 1961 it actually was leased to have flick use in This new Longest Date, that was filmed on location inside France.

Into 14th May MH415 arrived to your film device in the RAF Northern Weald into the Essex, and you will was after created at Debden, Duxford and Hawkinge

Brand new flights are decorated into the good camouflage plan and you can flown having 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron requirements GW-R. In Sep 1961 the latest aircraft brought about a blend by the lookin within the fresh new RAF Competition out-of Britain heavens screen during the Biggin Hill in the their livery in the Longest Day, flown by Pierre Laureys, an effective French The second world war Spitfire airplane pilot. It is knew one MH415 is the very last airworthy Spitfire so you’re able to become ended up selling of the COGEA, and it is thought that it was during the Ostend just like the late just like the December 1964. MH415 are ordered of COGEA of the Rousseau Aviation off Dinhard for the France, for the amount of 8, 000 francs to the ish Mahaddie was event together with her routes on forthcoming flick The battle out of Great britain, and you will just after a study of the John Simpson, MH415 are bought for an undisclosed share.

The fresh new routes are dismantled and you can shipped because of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree to own a redesign, registered G-AVDJ, so you can Mahaddie to the 29th December 1966. It was try flown and taken to the movie equipment at the RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 by T A Davies. The latest routes are stored, the Merlin 66 engine restricted, during Vaud escort guide the a lot of 1967, and it also wasn’t flown again until November, whether it obtained yet another Certificate from Airworthiness, becoming shot flown toward 29th of these week from the T A great Davies on Henlow. In early 1968 shooting got were only available in The country of spain, and as good Spitfire was needed for area performs, MH415 was chose and you may wishing on Henlow and you may Luton. A ninety-gallon lose-tank are fitting and various try aircraft achieved during the March at Henlow, Luton and you may Farnborough because of the Lt Cdr Meters T Hynett.

From inside the later February MH415 leftover the united kingdom, traveling thru France to Tablada Air Feet inside the Spain. For this much time journey it was flown by V H Bellamy. Movie area behave as N3312/ AI-C followed for the Spain, flown in the primary from the Lt Cdr Hynett. The Spitfire brand new arrived into England during the Manston towards the 11th Will get 1968, during the company with a gaggle off Messerschmitts, two Heinkels and Jeff Hawke from inside the a-b-25 digital camera-boat. The current weather into the 1968 are typically Uk, together with motion picture company was basically running out of day. Money has also been ultimately causing trouble, this is made a decision to disperse this new aerial equipment to the a beneficial climate of one’s Southern area out of France.

MH415 and a great many other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts were flown out to Montpelier from inside the August for three days, and the needed footage try obtained in the sunshine. MH415 dressed in of a lot marks during shooting, plus N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A, N3310/ A beneficialI-An effective, N3322/ AI/ Letter, N3319/ DO-K and N3314/ AI-Age. Which Spitfire was fitted which have strobe lights throughout the machine-gun ports and is flown for all in all, 125 instances during the shooting. For the Oct 1968 it had been depending within Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later you to definitely day was used inside the filming bail-away photos within Netheravon Wiltshire. Among movie device pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, received MH415 into end of its motion picture obligations plus it is actually dismantled in the Bovingdon by Simpson’s Aeroservices getting delivery in order to Houston, Texas, where they found its way to January 1969.

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