Lockheed A-28 Hudson

Derived from a civilian plane (Model 14), keeping the wings, tail and engines and a new fuselage with the filing of pumps, turret and back positions for the bombardier and navigator. Commissioned by Britain in 1938 was also acquired by the USAAF, was offered by the Lend-Lease program, such as A-28, A-29 or AT-18, depending on the mission and type of engine used. Some models for the RAF were transferred to the U.S. Navy, was appointed PBO-1 and employees on patrol A / S. Hudson belongs to a U.S. Navy the first confirmed sinking of German submarines by U.S. aircraft in World War II (a type VIIC).

History
Based on the Lockheed 14 Super Electra developed Lockheed before the beginning of World War II a light bomber, in June 1938 by the Royal Air Force for Coastal Command was ordered. The first machine, known as the Hudson Mk I flew on 10 December 1938, the following summer, the machines assigned to the Coastal Command. In the following years, nearly 2000 machines of the series Mk I, Mk II and Mk III to the Royal Air Force were delivered.

A Hudson was also the first aircraft of the United States Air Force, the World War II a German plane shot down - on 8 October 1939 on Jutland a Dornier Do 18. Hudson was also on the attack Altmark and in the seizure of the German U-boat U 570 involved. By a British Hudson was in May 1943 the first German U-boat Ballistic missiles sunk.

1942, the first machines, now as A-28 called extradited to the U.S. Air Force. Until 1942, produced 82 A-28 and 418 A-29. There were also 300 AT-18 trainers and 20 machines, by the U.S. Navy as PBO-1 were flown. A Navy PBO-1 was also the first U.S. aircraft to a German U-boat sank - U 656 off the coast Newfoundland.

Specifications

 * Model: A-29-LO (PBO-1 Hudson in the USN and the RAF Mk III)
 * Wingspan: 19.96 m
 * Length: 13.51 m
 * Height: 3.61 m
 * Weight: 5752 kg (empty) and 8544 kg (laden)
 * Engine: 2 Wright GR-1820-G205A radial, 9 cylinders (1,200 hp)
 * Speed: 407 km / h at 4570 m (maximum) and 330 km / h (cruise)
 * Service Ceiling: 8075 m
 * Range: 2816 km (loaded with four depth charges)
 * Defensive Weapons: 5 7.62 mm Browning machine guns (two fixed in the nose, two in dorsal turret and one in ventral position)
 * Charge Pumps: 700 kg bombs or depth charges (inner compartment)
 * Crew: 5 men (pilot, navigator, bombardier, gunner and radio operator)