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 a military conversion of the Lockeed Model 14 Super Electra airliner, and 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.[1][2][3] 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.
Crew: 6
Length: 44 ft 4 in (13.51 m)
Wingspan: 65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.62 m)
Wing area: 551 sq ft (51.2 m²)
Empty weight: 12,000 lb (5,400 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,500 lb (7,930 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,500 lb (8,390 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engines, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
Maximum speed: 218 kt (246 mph, 397 km/h)
Range: 1,700 nmi (1,960 mi, 3,150 km)
Service ceiling: 24,500 ft (7,470 m)
Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.2 m/s)
Guns:
2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in dorsal turret
2× .303 Browning machine guns in nose
Bombs: 750 lb (340 kg) of bombs or depth charges
