The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Two Mark 1 RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft from 1 Operational Training Unit (1 OTU) in flight, viewed from a third. The foreground Hudson, A16-34, carries a three-digit constructor's number (285) on its nose, rather than the normal four-digit version. Similarly, the distant Hudson, A16-18, carries what appears to be 269 on its nose. A16-34 was employed as a replacement aircraft by 1 OTU Detached Flight (formed for the air supplying of allied troops at Buna) after A16-114, flown by Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) George Brown, was damaged in a taxiing accident at Archerfield on the flight up to Port Moresby. The Detached Flight's 12 Hudsons began operations on 14 December 1942 from Ward's Drome, flying over the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to drop supplies at Soputa and, later, landing at Dobodura. A16-34 was flown by Flt Lt David Campbell on 28 and 30 December to ferry US troops to Dobodura and later achieved some prominence when, piloted by Squadron Leader Pat Hall, it flew General Sir Thomas Blamey into Dobodura on 5 January 1943 to inspect the Buna battlefield. This Hudson was converted to components on 7 August 1944. On 11 October 1942, A16-18, crewed by Pilot Officer Edward R Deacon and Sergeants Albert F Manning, Cecil H Andrews and William Anderson of No 3 Hudson Course did not return from an afternoon 'dead reckoning' exercise over Bass Strait and despite a search by 18 aircraft from 1 OTU the following day, no wreckage or crew were ever located.
Assembly of Lockheed Hudson aircraft at RAAF Station Richmond being undertaken by members of No 2 Aircraft Depot (AD), after being received in component form from America. Hudsons were also assembled
A flight of three Lockheed Hudson aircraft from No. 23 Squadron RAAF based at Amberley. Nearest camera is A16-3 flown by 22 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Phillip Walter Howson, OBE. In the centre is A16
A flight of three Lockheed Hudson aircraft from No. 23 Squadron RAAF based at Amberley. Nearest camera is A16-3 flown by 22 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Phillip Walter Howson, OBE. In the centre is A16
A flight of three Lockheed Hudson aircraft from 23 Squadron, RAAF, based at Amberley. Nearest camera is A16-3 flown by 22 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Phillip Walter Howson, OBE. In the centre is A16-38
A flight of three Lockheed Hudson aircraft from No. 23 Squadron RAAF based at Amberley. Nearest camera is A16-3 flown by 22 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Phillip Walter Howson, OBE. In the centre is A16
A group portrait of the members of two training courses at 1 Operational Training Unit (1 OTU). The front three rows are Beaufort crews, while the back three rows are Hudson crews. There were 12 Hudso
