RNZAF Hudson survivors webpage

[Dave Homewood]

I have added a new page to my website devoted to gathering information and photos on the surviving Lockheed Hudsons that were used by the RNZAF.

If you can add more detail or have photos to ofer, or can make corrections, please let me know:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF_Hudson_Survivors.html

[Dave Homewood]

I have just added a couple of fascianting photos taken of MOTAT's NZ2031, on the back of a truck at Ardmore, thanks to Mike Leet.

[agile]

Hi, I have been a long time watcher of your excellent forum but have never had anything worthwhile to post - but my curiosity has gotten the better of me this time. I can't help noticing a PBY in the background of Mike Leet's first photograph. Is this possibly the example that is currently in the RNZAF museum, or a random visitor to Ardmore? I can't make out the serial in the photo as posted. Any ideas?

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome to the forum agile. I wondered that myself. There have been a couple of Catalinas visit NZ postwar, I think one was a Confederate Air Force one from memory. There's a thread on the forum somewhere about the Catalina visitors, but someone else may be able to add more.

[43willys]

Cant remember much about it, i think it was owned by a couple of dudes who left it at Ardmore while they did a trip round Australia and NZ. someone else may know more.

[Dave Homewood]

I had the date of the MOTAT Hudson photos wrong and have corrected it now, thanks to Mike.

[Peter Lewis]

Yes the Cat N68740 was parked at Ardmore for quite some time. Owned by a couple of Americans who had it fitted out as an 'aerial yacht'. Early 1970s? - if I was pushed, I could find out the year.



The PBY-5A F-BCJH had a really interesting history:
Bu08114 (c/n 933) to F-BCJH with Societe Francaise de Transportes Aeriens du Pacific Sud. Then B-1043 of Foshing Air Transport. Acquired by CAT July 1952 for $39,000, May 1955 to Air Asia as B-825. In December 1957 the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration requested to use the aircraft for search and rescue purposes.
May 1958 it was used as a replacement aircraft for the destroyed B-819 (BUNO 08032) to support the PERMESTA rebels against Sukarno on Sulawesi, Indonesia, as part of the AUREV (Revolutionary Air Force).
Returned from Menado, Sulawesi to the Philippines on June 21, 1958. Overhauled Tainan April 1, 1964 through July 7, 1964. February 28, 1965 struck a sunken unmarked object off Taiwan, repaired then based at Taipei. May 15, 1966 the nose wheel collapsed on takeoff from Taipei. Repaired eventually in storage at Tainan May 1968 through March 31, 1972. No longer on the records November 30, 1972

[Dave Homewood]

Mike's photos of the Hudson with the Cat behind were taken circa 1977

[Dave Homewood]

here's the original Catalina N68740 thread
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Airshows&thread=2380&page=1

[agile]

Thanks for clarifying that one. I had suspected it was a bit too 'complete' to be the museum aircraft. I love the idea of having a flying boat as an 'aerial yacht'. Perhaps when my money tree starts flowering......

[hairy]

Dave, here's a couple of shots of '13 if you want 'em.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much mate!

[Richard Wesley]

Just thought I would add that I called past Motat yesterday and the Hudson is inside the Belfast hangar and a round of work has already begun including preparation for repainting and the removal of the undercarriage for corrosion control. Once this work on the fuselage is completed it is planned to fit the wings and flaps etc to complete the aircraft ready for display in the future hangar.

[Dave Homewood]

That is great news Richard. Are they planning to stick with the current early scheme that it has been wearing for a while or go with a later one?

[Richard Wesley]

Sorry, not sure on that one, I would think the current one will stay, but will try and check up on the next visit.

[Dave Homewood]

It would be nice to see it stay in the 1941-42 scheme that it has been wearing to remain a little different from NZ2013 in its later scheme. It would also be nice if Motat could find a turret to fit to it, however I know they're very scarce and are not strictly necessary as even a lot of the General Reconnaissance Hudsons lacked turrets and the armourers swapped the turrets from aircraft to aircraft as they rotated to the front line - so right now it represents a NZ-based aircraft, which is neat.

[Richard Wesley]

Dec 23, 2008 17:40:58 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

It would be nice to see it stay in the 1941-42 scheme that it has been wearing to remain a little different from NZ2013 in its later scheme. It would also be nice if Motat could find a turret to fit to it, however I know they're very scarce and are not strictly necessary as even a lot of the General Reconnaissance Hudsons lacked turrets and the armourers swapped the turrets from aircraft to aircraft as they rotated to the front line - so right now it represents a NZ-based aircraft, which is neat.

I think that Motat does have the turret, though maybe I'm mixed up, I'll try and remember to check next time I am there.

Also wandered out to the Hudson in the Waitamata Harbour at low tide for a look. Something I have been planning to do for 25 years. Quite deep mud to get there and then really only the centre wing section remaining I think. Perhaps it is even inverted, I don't know my Lockheed structures well enough to know.

[FlyingKiwi]

I've driven past that countless times but never been brave enough to tackle that mud to take a closer look! Looks like it's fairly well buried, I wonder how much is below the surface of the mud?

[Dave Homewood]

Did you see Ryan's photos last week?
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Wartime&action=display&thread=8211&page=2

[Richard Wesley]

Ah ah, no, completely missed that thread. Good to see some other photos on the site. The mud was bad when I did but no impossible. Not much left of the aircraft if you ask me but would love to see some old photos if any came to light from 20, 30 years ago.