There are two surviving RAAF Hudsons in Australia,
being A16-105 and A16-112, the latter seen here on touch-down at
the Laverton Airshow in March 2001. Both saw front line action as
well as later serving as a training aircraft.
During December 1942-January 1943 they carried out
attacks and supply flights during the final stages of the battle
to drive the Japanese back from Kokoda to their coastal base at
Buna. Both Hudsons were purchased by well-known Australian collector
Malcolm Long in the early 1970's from East West Airlines. After
many years of restoration 105 flew briefly before being placed on
static display at Airworld in Wangaratta Victoria. It was moved
to the Australian War Memorial Treloar Technology Centre, Mitchell
on 23rd January 2001.
Australia acquired over 240 examples of the bomber
for the Royal Australian Air Force, and they first entered service
in 1940. In December 1941, the Hudson was the first RAAF type to
see action against the Japanese. Hudsons stationed in the Netherlands
East Indies, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Darwin were a mainstay
RAAF aircraft used in desperate battles against Japanese forces
that continued during 1942. Later in the war, the role of the Hudson
as a front-line aircraft began to wane. The surviving planes were
increasingly shifted to other duties including training and by the
end of the war only about 50 remained, this number now having been
reduced to two.
