Vintage bomber a proud veteran of the Battle for Australia
A faithfully restored Hudson bomber will be among the many classic warbirds to grace the skies at Airshow 2015.
The aircraft, a veteran of the war in the Pacific, is the last of her famous line still capable of flight.
The old Hudson has a proud history of service.
It was manufactured in the United States and was delivered to Royal Australian Air Force on the 5th December 1941, two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
Among its first war time duties was to search for Japanese submarines off the coast of Western Australia in the months after the sinking of HMAS Sydney.
It then served for a brief period with No.32 Squadron off the East coast of Australia. Later it operated out of Milne Bay (PNG) carrying out a number of bombing, armed reconnaissance and patrol missions.
War's end saw the versatile Hudson involved in survey work for the RAAF.
Hudsons saw service with the air forces of many nations including Britain and the USA. All up 2,941 were built of which 247 were operated by the RAAF.
Armament consisted of up to nine Vickers and Browning machine guns and a cluster of 10 250 and 100 pound bombs (113 kg and 45 kg).
Hudson bombers notched up a series of memorable firsts during their wartime service
- On 8th October 1939, over Jutland, a RAF Hudson became the first British aircraft to shoot down a German warplane in WWII
- On 7th December 1941, an Australian RAAF Hudson became the first allied aircraft to attack and sink a Japanese warship ("Awajisan Maru" off Kota Bharu)
- On 1st March 1942 a USAAF Hudson became the first allied aircraft to sink a German submarine.(U-656 off Newfoundland)
Now, 73 years after she first flew into battle, this grand old warhorse will soar skyward again.
At Avalon the classic bomber will take part in a series of flying displays and also be available for inspection on the ground.
It is owned by Temora Aviation Museum which operates it in tribute to the Hudson crews of World War Two.
Airshow 2015 will be the first major observance of the centenary of the Gallipoli landings and will have as its main theme "saluting the heroes of the sky".
The Australian International Airshow has scheduled public sessions on the afternoon of Friday 27th February and then all day Saturday and Sunday.
