![]() The USAAF also took a number of Model 18s as the B-34 Lexington. It did however, excel as a replacement for the Hudson with better load, range and speed. But, as was the case of most converted airliners, it quickly proved too fragile and too vulnerable for that role. Instead of patrol work the British felt the type would be a good replacement for the Bristol Blenheim as a light day bomber. Superficially it would be hard to tell the two apart but side-by-side it would be apparent that the Ventura was slightly bigger and had much bigger engines (R-2800 replacing R-1820 or R-1830). The Ventura Mk I had the same layout as the earlier Hudson and looked very similar. ![]() Again, the RAF was the first customer for the type. ![]() This type was ordered into production as the military transport C-56/C-60.Īnd of course, it was also militarized much as the Model 14 had been. So it was enlarged and given more power and designated Model 18 Lodestar. Mainly because it was too small and under-powered to be economical. The Super Electra was really never successful as a civilian type. Meanwhile, things were happening at Lockheed too. The Navy finally won the dispute, and took over several A-29s that were renamed PBO. These were used for training and anti-submarine patrols from the continental US.įor those first several months of war there was a bit of a turf battle between the AAF and Navy about those ASW patrols. When the US found itself at war several Hudsons were taken over and re-badged A-28 or A-29 (depending on R-1830 or R-1820 engine) by the Army Air Force. The crew waved a large white flag to the plane which circled until RN naval vessels arrived on scene. It later became the first aircraft to capture a warship on the high seas when a No 269 Squadron Hudson flying from Iceland damaged the U-570 so that it couldn’t submerge. In October of 1939 it was the first RAF aircraft flying from England to down a German aircraft, that also made it the first American-built type to score a kill. The type was named “Hudson” by the British and it had several significant “firsts”.
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