Lockheed Hudson Mk.III | |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Type | Light bomber |
| Period | 1938–1943 |
| Built | 2941 |
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson was the first significant aircraft construction contract for the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation—the initial RAF order for 200 Hudsons far surpassed any previous order the company had received. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command but also in transport and training roles as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s anti-submarine squadrons and by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Source: Lockheed Hudson Mk.III on Wiki
| Lockheed Hudson Mk.III Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland |
| Photos | 90 |
| Hudson Mk.IIIA Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Michael Benolkin |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 36 |
| Lockheed 414 Hudson GR.III Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Don Alen |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 28 |
See also:
The Accidental Warrior
The Lockheed Hudson was a military conversion of the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra airliner. When the British Royal Air Force realized they lacked a modern maritime patrol aircraft at the start of WWII, they turned to the United States. The Hudson became the first American-built aircraft to see significant service with the RAF. Though it retained its airliner roots—including its “pregnant” fuselage and comfortable cabin—it was a fast, capable, and rugged platform that scored the RAF’s first aerial victory of the war and became the scourge of the German U-boat fleet.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Hudson Mk.III) |
|---|---|
| Role | Maritime Patrol / Light Bomber / ASW |
| Crew | 5 (Pilot, Navigator, Bomb Aimer, Radio Op, Gunner) |
| First Flight | December 10, 1938 |
| Powerplant | 2 × Wright R-1820-G205A Cyclone radials |
| Horsepower | 1,200 hp (895 kW) each |
| Maximum Speed | 246 mph (396 km/h) |
| Range | 1,850 miles (2,977 km) |
| Armament | 2 × fixed forward .303 guns; 2 × in dorsal turret; 1 × in belly; 750 lbs of bombs/depth charges |
Design Engineering: From Luxury to Lethality
- The Boulton Paul Turret: The most significant modification for British service was the addition of a Boulton Paul power-operated dorsal turret near the tail. This gave the Hudson a defensive “sting” that often surprised German interceptors.
- Fowler Flaps: Inherited from the Super Electra, the Hudson featured large-area “Fowler” flaps. These allowed the heavy, twin-engine aircraft to take off and land on relatively short, unimproved coastal airfields.
- The Bomb Aimer’s Nose: The luxury nose of the airliner was replaced with a heavily glazed “stepped” nose for the bomb aimer and navigator, providing excellent visibility for spotting submarine periscopes or navigating over featureless oceans.
- Internal Bomb Bay: Lockheed designers successfully integrated a bomb bay into the lower fuselage without compromising the aircraft’s structural integrity, allowing it to carry depth charges or standard 250 lb bombs.
Coastal Command Heroics
- First Kill: A Hudson of No. 224 Squadron RAF achieved the first British aerial victory of the war on September 8, 1939, when it downed a Dornier Do 18 flying boat over the North Sea.
- U-Boat Capture: In August 1941, a Hudson famously attacked the German submarine U-570. After being damaged by depth charges, the U-boat crew actually surrendered to the aircraft—the first time a submarine ever surrendered to a plane.
- “Old Faithful”: RAF crews nicknamed the plane “Old Faithful” due to its ability to take heavy punishment and return home on a single engine. Its Wright Cyclone engines were famously reliable over long trans-oceanic patrols.
- Special Duties: Because of its civilian airliner DNA, the Hudson was quiet and inconspicuous. It was frequently used by the RAF “Special Duties” squadrons to drop SOE agents and supplies into occupied France under the cover of night.
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