Hudson NZ2049

[alanw]

Hi All

yesterday I received a copy of the Septmeber 2012
"Fly Past" magazine (printed in UK).

On page 10 there was a small post and photo of
of the fuselage of the afore mentioned aircraft.

According to the article,It is currently in open
storage awaiting restoration at Wakefield, South Island.

I checked the ADF site and it reportedly belonged to
John Smith of Mapua. However the name given of it's
owner is different.

What I find interesting is that the small article states,
that it is believed that NZ2049 was the first of the
Hudsons to see action with the RNZAF.
It goes on to state I quote

" During it's operation from Henderson Field, Guadacanal
- It fought off an attack by three (3) Japanese Mitsubishi
Zero fighters on November 23 1942" end quote.

The owner has plans according to the article to do a
long term restoration to airworthy status (no time frame
given). The article is by a Ken Cothliff

The ADF site simply states arrival and what sqauadrons
it was assigned to and eventual fate.

Anyone have any knowledge of this, is this guy Cothliff
a kiwi or a Brit?

The reason I ask is, I am currently a little dubious of articles
written by UK contributors, especially after one wrote an
article on the RNZAF Sunderlands and stated (I kid you not)
that the four Mk III's which arrived in late 1944, actually
arrived late 1945 and were ex 490 Squadron aircraft!!!
- from the Aeroplane Icons Book "Sunderland" article by
a one Simon Wood.

Be interested to learn more about NZ2049 though

Thanks/regards

Alan

[skyhawkdon]

It was reported on here some time ago that Bill Reid now has the aircraft and the fuselage was seen in the background of photos of the Anson doing some of it's early engine runs at Bill's farm. Given what Bill has acheived with the Anson anything is possible!

[aeromedia]

Yep, it's ex John Smith of Mapua. Maybe the only thing that's ever left Johns collection. They obviously have a great deal of respect for one another. The Hudson is in EXCELLENT hands.

[alanw]

Oct 20, 2012 14:49:13 GMT 12 skyhawkdon said:

It was reported on here some time ago that Bill Reid now has the aircraft and the fuselage was seen in the background of photos of the Anson doing some of it's early engine runs at Bill's farm. Given what Bill has acheived with the Anson anything is possible!

Yes, The article names Bill Reid as the current owner,
though I didn't want to say just in case.

Sounds like we may at some future point have a RNZAF
Husdon flying here again That's cool!!! ;D

Regards

Alan

[Dave Homewood]

Yes that is right. And yes this is this very aircraft that saw the first RNZAF air to air combat in the South-West Pacific. in WWII - only the Buffaloes and Hurricanes of No. 488 Squadron preceded this in RNZAF air combat.

It was being flown at the time by George Gudsell who was awarded the DFC (US) for his command during this attack and a subsequent one by another three fighters just days later. This is well known about this airframe. But what few people know is NZ2049 has a lot of subsequent encounters too. It'll all be in my book.

This aircraft is exceedingly historic. I am very glad that Bill and Robyn Reid plan to restore it, and if the day comes when it returns to the air I really hope to see it.

[denysjones]

Bill and son Toby visited me at Ferrymead not long after John Smith agreed to part with the a/c.

We talked at length about their aims and the big point is that if the Hudson is to ever fly again she needs a complete centre section transplant. Like all the Hudsons left in NZ her c/s was torched off.

The repair I used on NZ2035, on Lockheed's advice, was a wartime repair permissible for a 30% fracture of the spar no more than 18inches from the centre line not 100% nearly 36in out and followed by how many years of neglect.

So Bill is faced with buying a suitable donor from somewhere. His last comment to me was along the lines of knowing what he'd had to pour into the Anson he was apprehensive what the Hudson would cost.

[aeromedia]

Yes it would certainly be another huge commitment. But I guess there are still prospects of a restorable centre section lurking somewhere in the USA.
It would be another wonderful addition to the NZ scene. I agree with another writer on the forum somewhere who stated the Hudson at Temora is his favourite aircraft. If it's not mine, it's very near the top !

[JDK]

There's not a lot of Hudsons, or indeed Hudson parts around, though there's already two others under active rebuild to static display in major collections I've visited recently, including one getting a centre section replacement. If you could use a Ventura or later Model 16 type centre section that opens up the options a bit, I'd assume.

I have a CD ROM to hand about to head to Chez Reid with a selection of Hudson images from my travels, hoping it'll be of some use!

Regards,

[Dave Homewood]

The MOTAT Hudson used a Lodestar center section to repair the damage and restore the wings to the fuselage.

[ZacYates]

Outstanding news and seeing it in FlyPast was a great surprise.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Oct 21, 2012 15:13:50 GMT 12 ZacYates said:

Outstanding news and seeing it in FlyPast was a great surprise.

Likewise. I picked up a copy of that edition of FlyPast last week and was thumbing through it when the news item (and photo) of the Hudson caught my eye. I definitely did a double-take on that one.

[johnnyfalcon]

What if the Annie had to go, to fund an airworthy restoration? Would the loss to NZ skies be worth it?

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I think so. The Anson is great but the Hudson is a far more important type to NZ history, especially this particular example, and it will be well worth it.

[aeromedia]

I'm not sure of the degree of commonality or interchangeability of parts and major components, but remember Lady LodeStar was offered for sale up in Hampton Roads USA by the CAF for just 40k quite recently, with some damage, but everything included. Engines, props - the lot. I spoke to Jerry Yagan about it and he thought it was still sitting there, although I see it isn't listed with Courtesy anymore. But maybe a worthwhile lead?

[Dave Homewood]

What has happened to the Hudson project that the late Steve Searle had, which he was supposedly converting from a Lodestar but was allegedly originally a Hudson?

[baz62]

I think I read in Classic Wings that Bill Reid had a donor centre section in the US from a Lodestar sorted?

[Andy Wright]

I was under the impression the Hudson was to be a static restoration by the Reids so any development from there is rather exciting and the perfect thing to see in NZ skies.

I'd certainly donate to a "Friends of the Hudson" along the lines of the Queensland Beaufort if it meant making the Reids' job a little bit easier and if that's something they wanted to set up. Have a major soft spot for the Hudson and am lucky to live just up the road from the Temora one (which I saw fly again this weekend). Don't know if aeromedia was referring to me or not but the Hudson is my favourite in the Temora collection (a collection of favourites!).

[Dave Homewood]

The Hudson is also my favourite in the Temora collection and I've never ever been there. As many here know I absolutely love the Lockheed Hudson, and I have a real interest in the stories of the men who flew and maintained them in the RNZAF.

[kiwiwreckdiver]

If he wanted to take it step further there is a complete center section of a Hudon bomber up in New Caldonia (ex RNZAF) still sitting on the side of the field, fuse as been partly scrapped not sure on its if its a contender for airworthy status. 70 years in the open will do that.
Any one else up for a static Hudson project ??

[ZacYates]

I'd be more than happy to donate as well if something came together.