Hudson AircrewsPrint Page

A rudder from a Lockheed Hudson aircraft commemorates the Lockheed Hudson crews which served in the Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) during World War Two.

The Hudson served the Allies faithfully during the war on most fronts and with little fanfare. The Air Forces of Britain, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, the Netherlands, China, Brazil and Australia all operated Hudsons.

Derived from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra 12 passenger transport, the Model 14L/214/414 Hudson first flew in December 1938 and by the time production ended in mid 1943, a total of 2,941 examples had been built, most of which served the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth countries. The Royal Australian Air Force received 247 Hudsons between January 1940 and May 1942 in several versions.

As the war progressed, a growing number of roles were found for the Hudson, including transport (14 troops could be carried if the turret and other items of equipment were removed), meteorological reconnaissance, VIP transport, and air-sea rescue, for which role an under fuselage airborne lifeboat could be carried. The versatility of the Hudson ensured it remained in service throughout the war and for a significant time afterwards.

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