Crew of a Lockheed Hudson (1 Viewer)

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Fatboy Coxy

Airman 1st Class
126
60
Aug 24, 2019
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?
 
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
 
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

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From my library
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1643698463786.png
 
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
 

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