Operations of 459 Squadron Middle East, Australian Hudson training, Special Transport Flight 1 OUT New Guinea 1942 to 43, Survey work in the RAAF 1946, a named casualty list of personnel mentioned within this book, Hudsons built for RAF used by the RAAF, camouflage and markings.Įach of these books has an index of personnel, please email or ring me if you would like to know if a person’s name is within the index. This book Volume 1, covers the policy and procurement of the Hudson, operations in Malaya Sumatra and Java by 1 and 8 Squadrons, Maritime Trade Protection by 2,6,7,13,14,23,24,32 Squadrons, They had served in most theaters of war in which the RAAF flew. 1 Squadron RAAF became the first aircraft to make an attack in the Pacific War, sinking a Japanese transport ship, the Awazisan Maru, off Kota Bharu at 0118h local time, an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor.īy the end of World War II the RAAF had purchased 247 Hudsons. So with adjustment could be used as a troop transporter, general cargo carrier.įollowing Japanese attacks on Malaya, Hudsons from No. The remains of the bombers crew are laid to rest in a single coffin The plane, Boston BZ590, belonging to the Royal Air Force’s 18 Squadron, was crewed by 3 members of the RAF Volunteer. The Hudson was developed from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra which was a commercial airliner. Initially it was required as a maritime patrol aircraft but soon took on various roles. Just prior to World War II in 1938, the Lockheed Hudson was selected for the RAF. However, his main focus on the wartime history. These books would be a valuable research reference for anyone who had a forebear in the RAAF squadrons that flew the Lockheed Hudson bomber in RAAF service during World War II and indeed after.Ī most impressive book as the author has collected a vast amount of information about individual aircraft, pilots, crew, sorties, squadron history and even has chapters on what happened to the planes and men after the war. A claim which is totally justified with the production of this book RAAF Hudson Story Volume 1 and subsequently the RAAF Hudson Story volume 2. The author states in his introduction that, ‘I decided to leave no stone unturned in my Hudson research’. Shown above are the goggles and RAF flying helmet used in 1944.No doubt, this is the most comprehensive book that will ever be printed about the RAAF A16 Lockheed Hudson light bomber reconnaissance aircraft of World War II. It could be quickly removed during an emergency by pulling the red release straps. It weighed about 13 pounds and was worn over clothing and gear. Shown above is the inside of the Grow helmet and the M4 series helmet which contained five overlapping strips of manganese steel. It was worn over the standard leather flight helmet. Shown above is the Grow Helmet produced by the British Wilkinson Sword Company in 1943. Shown above is the Luftwaffe bomber crew helmet used in the Battle of Britain in 1941. Shown above is the Luftwaffe bomber crew helmet armor. Shown above is a M4A2 helmet produced in mid-1944. Shown above is a M5 helmet which was issued late in the war. Early bomber crews found them uncomfortable since their headphones fit poorly under the helmet. Bomber crewmen rarely wore the goggles since they reduced the wearer’s vision. Shown above is a M3 helmet and anti-flak goggles. Body armor and helmets helped protect against this threat and saved thousands of bomber crewmen from injury or death.” “A 1942 study determined that relatively low velocity projectiles such as deflected flak fragments or shattered pieces of aircraft structure cause 70% of bomber crew wounds.
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