Spitfire that downed Nazi aircraft and starred in 1969 Hollywood epic 'The Longest Day' is set to fetch £4.5M at auction

An historic Spitfire that downed a German aircraft during the Second World War before starring in a string of hit Hollywood films in the 1960s is set to go under the hammer this weekend for a record £4.5million. MH415, as the Spitfire's tail number reads, has been brought back to its brilliant best with up to 95 cent of its original parts and will soon land in one lucky owner's hanger when it goes under the hammer at Goodwood, near Chichester, West Sussex. But the Spitfire would hit new heights when it played a starring role in the 1962 American epic 'The Longest Day' and The Battle of Britain in 1969. The historic Spitfire MH415 that downed German aircraft during the Second World War before starring in a string of Hollywood hit films in the 1960s is set to sell for a record £4.5million The warplane spent 40 years in a Texas barn before being shipped to Australia for restoration MH415 would play a starring role in the 1969 hit film 'The Battle of Britain', which featured Sir Michael Caine The one-seater vintage aircraft is currently stored in a hangar at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire following a staggering 55,000 hours of meticulous restoration work, which began in 2020. Pictured is the Spitfire which is based at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire which is due to go under the hammer on Saturday in Goodwood, West Sussex MH415, as the Spitfire's tail number reads, has been brought back to its brilliant best with up to 95 cent of its original parts making it ready to dominate the skies once again Planes of a similar age are often fitted with newer parts after being damaged in the war or suffering ageing.