Just dipping in and out of the film “The Train”, and there was a sequence on there where a locomotive gets straffed by a clipped wing Spifire with D-day invasion stripes. I wondered which particular Spitfire it would have been then, as the film was 1965 and there weren’t quite so many around then in airworthy condition. Does anyone know? Thanks.
By: Sopwith - 14th March 2015 at 17:20
Thank you fellows, for your replies. Much appreciated.
By: DazDaMan - 13th March 2015 at 23:17
And, to the best of my knowledge, ‘434 wasn’t used in The Longest Day.
By: Keefy041 - 13th March 2015 at 17:04
I don’t think you’ll find there is much recognisable of MK297 still extant .
By: DazDaMan - 13th March 2015 at 08:09
MK297.
By: scotavia - 13th March 2015 at 00:51
I would suggest this was one of the ex COGEA target tugs used in the Longest Day film a few years earlier ,IMDB has this note…
” Four Spitfires were used in the strafing sequence. They were all ex-Belgian target tugs and all were MK9s. The serial numbers were MH415, MK297, MK923 and MH434 and all are, as of this writing, still extant. The Spitfires were assembled and co-ordinated by former Free French Spitfire pilot Pierre Laureys, who flew with 340 Squadron, a Free French unit in the RAF. The four Spitfires were, of course, repainted in 340 Squadron markings. Spitfire MK923 was owned by Oscar-winning actor Cliff Robertson from 1963-1998. “
As an aircraft mad primary school youngster I was on a school trip to Belgium and was totally surprised to see 2 Spitfires in D day stripes at Ostende airport in 1964.
By: bradleygolding - 12th March 2015 at 21:37
Which ever one John Crewdson had access to at the time, possibly Connie Edwards’ as I think you can see the target towing bits underneath.
Steve
Sign In
March 12, 2015 at 7:33 pm