Lockheed Hudson caravan - possibly for sale

[baz62]

Feb 22, 2013 11:29:33 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Stuff the caravan idea, I'd rather fly into event in the WONZ super office (ie a Lockheed Hudson!).

What? Not a Vildebeest/Vincent?? ;D

[ZacYates]

Just trying to be realistic :-P

[kiwiwreckdiver]

Ah so she is still around.
Great news !!
Thankfully not sitting in a smelter in Auckland.
She would be a great start for a static Hudson, combine the center section Hodson from New Cal and other bits laying in between NZ & Ozz I think we could get a great museum piece together.
We'll see how much stuff is left once Bill gets his airborne, we should give him priority for his very worth while project.
Best of luck to him
For those keen to see the center up on Caldonia heres a link
www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/hudson/NZ2023.html

[Dave Homewood]

Though he'd love to as a pipe dream, Bill Reid has no immediate intention to get NZ2049 airborne.

[davidd]

NZ2049 is a genuine "combat" Hudson, with much service flown from Henderson Field, having been among the original group of 13 aircraft of No. 3 Squadron which departed Whenuapai on 2nd October 1942, with another two reserve aircraft sent to Fiji until more accommodation became available at Espiritu Santo. All these aircraft were equipped with turrets, beam guns (VGO 0.303 inch) and ASV Mk. II radar with side search aerials only. She was one of the first six to arrive at Henderson Field (Bomber I) on 23rd November, flown by P/O G E (George) Gudsell, and was third of these to return to Espiritu Santo for its next 60 hour inspection. It returned to New Zealand at the end of January 1943 for its first (intermediate?) inspection, being one of the first to do so, and was back at Henderson Field by 21st Feb. It was again absent from Guadalcanal for most of June 1943, turning up again at Henderson Field on the 28th June, and departed for the south again on 16th August, where it is thought to have undergone another inspection before being put back to operational work with 9 Squadron from early September till late October 1943. At this point, 3 Squadron was withdrawn from Henderson Field (Guadalacanal) to Espiritu Santo, and No. 9 Squadron crews were returned to Whenuapai (NZ) or posted to strength of 3 Squadron at Santo. However this was almost the end for 2049 as an operational aircraft, and she was returned to New Zealand at this time. After brief service with 9 Squadron at Whenuapai in January 1944, it was selected as one of twelve Hudson IIIs to be converted to "troop transport" configuration (known as a C-63) by No. 1 Repair Depot, Rukuhia. These were all delivered to 40 squadron at Whenuapai by April 1944, but along with all nine Lodestars serving with the squadron, were transferred to the newly formed No. 41 Squadron on 21st August 1944.

One of the highlights of this aircraft's service was one of the earliest bombing attack on a Japanese submarine by an RNZAF aircraft in South Pacific on 2nd December 1942 (Sgt I M Page and crew, claimed as damaged); only other prior RNZAF claim was by a 5 Squadron Singapore III in July 1942. A Hudson of No. 9 Squadron from New Caledonia attacked another submarine on 6th February 1943.
On 4th March 1943, NZ2049 (F/O Hoyle & crew) carried out attack against Viru harbour in early morning, from 800 feet, and four days later F/L K G King and crew bombed the same target during an otherwise standard early morning patrol (dropped 3 bombs/depth charges to no effect). However practically all of its operational flying was on armed reconniasance and standard anti-submarine patrols to the north west of Henderson, up to Bougainville and down "the slot", scouting all the coastlines by radar as well as the still very reliable human eye, looking for any untoward activities.
David D

[kiwiwreckdiver]

Quick question to dewobz ??
Is the owner the origanl guy that carried out the conversion from aircraft to camper ??
Where are did it originate from??, who built it and where was the conversion carried out, what happend to the rest of the Hudson ??

[Dave Homewood]

Very good questions!

[dewobz]

Hi Kiwiwreckdiver, the owner is presently in hospital so I cannot ask him for definitive answers to your questions. What I do know anecdotally is - he purchased the Hudson (I believe already converted) from the owners of a camp ground on Coromandel Peninsula (I think at Tapu?) in about 1972. A fairly safe assumption might be that they purchased the aircraft from Rukuhia - there are 2 or 3 Hudsons I believe (from adf.serials) listed as "buyer unknown" or "fate unknown" or some such - and that they did the conversion but I cannot be absolutely certain of this either. The present owner has made no mention of knowledge of the remainder of the aircraft. There is one party very keen to see the caravan and I am endeavouring to gain access for him. When I am able to talk to the owner I will ask all those other questions. Sorry not to be more definite. Cheers, Wally.

[kiwiwreckdiver]

Wow right in my own back yard, being raised in the Thames area, and having friends and family living around and near Tapu/ Coroglen, who would have knowen there could be chopped up Hudson still still dumped in someones back yard.
Dewobz - If I had the space I would love to take it off his hands (soft spot for the Hudsons) but have 2 Harvard projects taking up lots of space.
Currently in Norway due to work and will not be back until August, let us know how the sale go's if not I could look into it then
Hope the owner is getting better

[baz62]

2 Harvard projects? You've done it now, photos and details otherwise we may pass out from lack of information! ;D

[mit]

Mar 1, 2013 11:48:04 GMT 12 baz62 said:

2 Harvard projects? You've done it now, photos and details otherwise we may pass out from lack of information! ;D

There is a bit there Baz..

rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=market&thread=11945&page=1

[baz62]

Ahhh thanks Mit. See spies everywhere! ;D

[Dave Homewood]

Are you diving on aircraft wrecks in Norway, kiwiwreckdiver?

[kiwiwreckdiver]

Hi guys and thanks for your interest
The 2 projects haven't changed much in recent years due to me being out of NZ the ATC kids would come round and help out from time to time but a few move on a find girls and beer and loose interest ( 2 still 2 of my favourite aswell).
Still collecting parts for the 2 of them, 2 silver framed MkII but 2 different cockpit lay outs.
(Will have to get some onions of some of you guys about that one)
I'm currently in Norway until August due to work but will be returning to New Zealand, for some serious retro work.
I was a member of the local ATC as a kid and had a blast I would like to give something back to it in the form of a flight simulator made with the left over frame, hopefully sparking some of the younger ones into path in aviation.
I'm also collecting cockpit fittings for P40, P51, and F4U as a side project to make up some cockpit displays.


Dave - Yes been to a He111 and a JU52 just out side of Stavanger where i'm living but on the ground

The Ju52 was on the side of a small pond and still had body parts sticking out. Spoke to old boy who done the recovery of the bodies (16 of them) when it crashed, the Germans just wrapped a rope around the head of the dead and pulled on it until something came to the surface he said most of the time only half a body would come up, gruesome stuff.
typically the He11 crash there wasn't much left but i'm going back up (this time with a fully charged battery) and will post up some pics to come. nice leading eadge with fuel por tup there and one of the large spares is still there.

Also translating 3 books over winter from the local library on ship wrecks and aircraft wrecks during the war there were 80 odd in this area including a Wellington that crashed into the school across the road from my house !!

The school still hold a once a year memorial to the young lads (incl a Kiwi) who were lost in the raid.

There is also a Wellington control dash up on the wall as the memorial.
The Norwegian weather is still pretty cold to you have to take it one day at time !!!

[dewobz]

Hi Folks - Just to get back on track -
New information - the present owner first encountered the fuselage section (in the early 1970s) at Tapu campground when it was an 'empty room trailer' owned by members of the Mahana Community and used by them as a mobile school room during their "Original Travelling Roadshow". He purchased it from them and did the present and only caravan conversion.
The owner is out of hospital and open to arrangements to view the fuselage section / caravan at almost any time by arrangement suitable to all parties. It is definitely for sale "as is" to a good home where preservation, restoration and possible public display are the principal qualities sought in a "good" home. The price may have to be based upon considering offers, set at auction or by a tender process. We cannot give any indication of price at this stage.
The caravan (minus axle & wheels) was brought to its present location after being winched onto a large trailer towed by a big SUV and was slid off onto blocks. It is "very heavy" according to the owner. The 3 x wheels and axle, which also look WW2 vintage, are still with it.
Contact me in the first instance - PM me or email [e-mail]

[dewobz]

And for those who haven't looked elsewhere or requested pictures, here's a little guided tour. Portside - you can immediately see the entry door has been moved forward -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 018 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 022 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 007 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And portside from the rear -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 033 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Starboard side - from the rear then the front -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 031 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 014 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And a detail -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 015 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And let's go inside -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 005 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 004 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 003 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 002 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And an indication of the condition of the floor/bomb bay roof structure -


Helen's HUDSON Caravan 021 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

All for now. Hope to hear from you.
Wally.

[kiwiwreckdiver]

Hello again Wally and thanks for the up dates pics
She dose look pretty cool but who ever grabs her has got their work cut out.
Please keep us dated on the sales.
and who was the Mahana Community ? and the traveling show

[dewobz]

I'm not absolutely certain but I think Mahana Community was a commune from way up the top of Coromandel Peninsula who did a touring music and theatre show type thing called "The Original Travelling Roadshow" - a la Red Mole maybe - or like the one that famous Kiwi actor was in whose name completely eludes me right now .... he went on to make movies with Roger Donaldson ....? It's early onset Altzhiemers for me today ....

[Dave Homewood]

Are you thinking of the likes of Bruno Lawrence, John Bach, Martyn Sanderson, Ian Watkins and others who were in the group Blerta, and made TV shows, films and travelled around to live gigs in an old bus?

[dewobz]

That's them, Blerta ... I had a brain-stall
Thanks, Wally.