NICKNAMED the boomerang because of her ability to withstand enemy fire, the Hudson bomber will grace the skies again at Avalon’s 2015 airshow.
The famous bomber is the last of her classic line still capable of taking to the air.
Manufactured quickly in the US as the Allies prepared for war, the bomber was delivered to Royal Australian Air Force on 5 December 1941, two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
Early war-time duties included searches for Japanese submarines off the coast of Western Australia in the months after the sinking of HMAS Sydney.
The Hudson then served for a brief period with No 32 Squadron off the east coast of Australia, later operating out of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, carrying out bombing, armed reconnaissance and patrol missions.
War’s end saw the versatile Hudson involved in survey work for the RAAF.
Hudsons were part of the air forces in many nations including Britain and the USA. All up, 2941 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.
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.
The airshow 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 27 February and all-day the following Saturday and Sunday.
