34 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS
1939 TO 1945
HUDSON
LOCKHEED
1918 2018T
hroughout World War
Two the US provided large
numbers of aircraft to the
RAF, through the Lend-Lease
programme; the first to enter
service was the Lockheed Hudson.
It was a military version of
Lockheed’s 14 Super Electra, and
200 examples were ordered for the
RAF in June 1938 by the British
Purchasing Commission.
Although the order was
contentious at the time (many
felt it was wrong to order from
overseas) it proved to be a wise
move as it filled an important
gap in Coastal Command’s fleet.
The Hudson had originally been
ordered as a navigation trainer, but
the outbreak of war forced the type
into the maritime patrol task.MILITARY CONVERSION
The first Hudson for the RAF
flew on December 10, 1938 and
differed from the Super Electra
by having more powerful 900hp
(671kW) Wright Cyclone engines,
a transparent bomb aiming nose,
two fixed forward-firing guns,
a bomb bay and provision for
a power-operated Boulton Paul
turret – the latter to be fitted upon
delivery to Britain.The first examples arrived in
the UK by sea at Liverpool Docks
on February 15, 1939 and were
assembled at the city’s Speke
aerodrome. By now the order had
been increased to 350 aircraft
(although some were transferred to
the Royal Canadian Air Force).
The Hudson I entered RAF
service with 224 Squadron at
Leuchars, Scotland in May 1939,
replacing Avro Ansons. By the
outbreak of war the type was in
service with three squadrons and
the began operating immediately in
maritime patrol.
A 224 Squadron Hudson (N7217)
flown by Flt Lt A L Wolmersley was
the first RAF aircraft to shoot down
an enemy aircraft during World War
Two, when it destroyed a Dornier
Do 18 flying boat over Jutland on
October 8, 1939.
In January 1940 the aircraft began
to receive anti-surface vessel (ASV)
radar, a tool that would prove
invaluable in searching
for submarines.OVERSEAS DUTIES
RAF Hudsons played an important
role in the Dunkirk evacuations
in 1940, providing patrols over
the beach and bombing Germanemplacements when required.
The aircraft also flew with
distinction over the North Atlantic
from bases in Iceland and was
particularly active off the coast of
Norway, and the Hook of Holland.
Throughout the war, RAF Hudsons
destroyed or forced the surrender of
24 U-boats.
Later in the conflict they
joined the Westland Lysanders at
Tempsford, Bedfordshire, helping to
drop special agents behind enemy
lines in occupied France; bases in
Gibraltar and North Africa played
an important role in the war in
the Mediterranean.
Hudson IIs differed from their
forebears by having Hamilton
Standard Hydromatic propellers in
place of the original two-position
blades. The Hudson III had 1,200hp
(895kW) Cyclones and additional
armament (a ventral gun and two
beam guns).
By late 1944 the Hudson had
mostly been superseded by
more modern aircraft, but many
examples continued to fly until the
war’s end. With turrets removed,
some airframes were used as
transports, trainers or as weather
‘hacks’, particularly in the Middle
East. However, it was in IcelandTop right
Lockheed Hudson III
T9390 began life as
41-42425 but was
transferred to the
RAF as part of the
Lend-Lease scheme.
Compared to earlier
variants, the Hudson III
had 1,200hp (895kW)
Wright Cyclones and
additional armament
including two beam
guns. T9390 served
with Coastal Command
as part of 500
Squadron but was lost
on March 12, 1942. Sgts
Hand, Robinson, Chaplin
and Jones, as well as
LAC Molnar,
all perished.
ANDY HAY/WWW.FLYINGART.
CO.UKAbove
Hudson N7221 was
among the fi rst batch of
15 airframes delivered
to the RAF in February- ALL KEY UNLESS
STATED