History of the Lockheed Hudson Mk. III
Weekly Column by Chris Charland
Here is a Lockheed Hudson Mk. III, s/n BW628 from No. 122 (Composite) Squadron based at R.C.A.F. Station Patricia Bay (now Victoria International Airport), British Columbia. It was acquired through Lend-Lease (Requisition No. 62, 2467 and Contract No. DA-5).
Hudson s/n BW628 was taken on strength with the R.C.A.F.'s Eastern Air Command at Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 5th of February, 1942. It was immediately allocated to No. 31 Operational Training Unit at Debert, Nova Scotia. While at Debert, it was involved in one minor accident. On the 26th of June, 1942, it sustained Category C5 damaged\ after the pilot Sergeant E. L. Downey, taxied into Hudson s/n BW437. Downey's aircraft struck the port elevator while he was preparing to depart for a night time solo flight
Hudson s/n BW628 was put into storage on the 22nd of May, 1944. On the 9th of December, 1944, it was transferred to No. 122 (Composite) Squadron at R.C.A.F. Station Patricia Bay, B.C. The squadron was known as the 'Flying Joe Boys' and also to a lesser extent, the 'Flying Nightmares'. On the 13th of March, 1945 it was sent out for Air Sea Rescue modifications. Note the air droppable life boat it is carrying. When released, it descended by parachute. The aircraft was later equipped in December, 1945 with ASV (Air-to-Surface Vessel) radar.
This Hudson was taken off strength with the R.C.A.F. on the 14th of December, 1948 and disposed of by War Assets.
BIO
Chris Charland is a former member of the Canadian military. On June of 1991, he began writing as a military affairs journalist with CFB North Bay's newspaper "The Shield". Since then, Chris has done a wide variety of writing and became a published author in 1997. He has written and contributed to over 20 books related to air force history and civilian aviation. Chris is an Associate RCAF Historian. He is also a licensed pilot and amateur radio operator. Some of his time is also taken up with North Bay Air Search and Rescue.
