Crew of a Lockheed Hudson

[Fatboy Coxy]

Hi all, the crew of a Lockheed Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft is stated at five. I'm guessing this was Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Radio Operator, and gunner for the Boulton-Paul dorsal turret. Have I got that right?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Depending on the operator, there was no co-pilot

 

[fubar57]

These are RAAF. Here we have 5.... A crew of a Lockheed Hudson aircraft from No 2 Squadron RAAF, alongside one of the other Squadron ...
....and 4.... The happy crew of Lockheed Hudson A16-246 of 6 Squadron RAAF after their return from attacking ...
59 Squadron Coastal Command with 4.... No. 59 Squadron RAF - Coastal Command - Lockheed Hudson Mk.III - VI

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

According to the memoirs of a Hudson pilot early war crews were generally 2 pilots sharing the navigation, rather than pilot and navigator. Using the Coastal Command Losses Volume I by Ross McNeill most 1939 to 1941 RAF Hudson losses on operations had 4 man crews with the occasional 5 man.

According to the RAAF Organisation Memorandums as of 20 January 1941, Hudson Crew for a General Reconnaissance sortie,
1st Pilot, Officer
2nd Pilot, Officer or Airman
2 x Wireless Air Gunner, Airman

On 22 March the second pilot was upgraded to officer. On 5 March 1942 the same crew for bombing operations as well. As of 8 June 1942 it was changed to
Pilot, Officer
Nav (B), Officer
2 x Wireless Air Gunner, Officer or Airman
Air Gunner, Airman

 

[MiTasol]

No Observer (Navigator/Bombardier) like in the first AWM photo and no Nav like in the AWM four man crew??

 

[John D. Voss]

There was only one seat for a pilot. See the movie "Captain of the Clouds" with Jimmy Cagney...it's in colour. Hudson cockpit scenes are near the very end of the film.

 

[MiTasol]

Depends on the submodel - many only had the single pilot seat but a significant number had dual controls.

From ADF serials - about 20 of the RAAF Hudson's of most/all Mk's had dual controls

From my library

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

The following RAAF Organisation Memoranda give air crew establishments (crew size and roles) for RAAF Squadrons (Home Defence) by type of aircraft and mission.

OM27 20-Jan-41
OM33 22-Mar-41
OM86 5-Mar-42
OM103 29-Apr-42
OM129 29-Jun-42
OM141 20-Jul-42
OM151 22-Aug-42
OM166 22-Sep-42
OM198 3-Dec-42
OM310 8-Jun-42
OM338 5-Aug-43
OM345 17-Aug-43
OM352 26-Aug-43
OM407 24-Dec-43
OM460 11-Apr-43
OM487 17-May-44
OM503 1-Jun-44
OM528 10-Jul-44
OM567 12-Sep-44
OM579 2-Oct-44
OM647 28-Dec-44
OM721 2-Oct-44
OM733 26-May-45
OM743 25-Jun-45
OM757 27-Jul-45

 

[Howard Gibson]

There was only one seat for a pilot. See the movie "Captain of the Clouds" with Jimmy Cagney...it's in colour. Hudson cockpit scenes are near the very end of the film.

I second your recommendation for Captain of the Clouds. Where else can you see James Cagney in colour, flying a Fairey Battle?

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

OK, thanks guys, and I found a bit in the following link at the bottom of page four details aircrews lost

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1070725/document/5520007.PDF

The RAAF was operating the same the RAF as Geoffery Sinclair pointed out, a crew of four