The Hudson Transports


Hudson Radio Call Signs

 

On 6th January 1944, a number of RAAF Hudsons were allocated radio call signs. Despite the VH prefix, these aircraft did not appear on the civil register. The following call signs were derived from an examination of the Record Cards (Form E/E.88) for all 247 RAAF Hudsons. Hudson A16-120 is reputed to have been VH-RBC although no mention of this can be found on the Record Card. By the same token, there is no mention of VH-RBC having been allocated to any other Hudson, so the serial/call sign tie-up is probably valid. All of these Hudsons were Mk IVA.


RAAF SERIAL CALL SIGN
A16-113 VH-RBA
A16-115 VH-RBB
A16-120 VH-RBC
A16-122 VH-RBD
A16-124 VH-RBE
A16-131 VH-RBF
A16-134 VH-RBG
A16-147 VH-RBH
A16-148 VH-RBI
A16-??? VH-RBL
A16-??? VH-RBN
A16-??? VH-RBR

VH-RBL, RBN & RBR are known to have been used but the aircraft are otherwise unidentified. It is presumed that they were Hudsons.




The Hudson Transports


Aircraft Date
History
A16-113
VH-RBA		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
.... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBA.
29MAR44 Allotted 2 AD in lieu of 38 SQN.
04SEP44 Allotted 1 OTU ex 2 AD.
A16-115
VH-RBB		 03SEP43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
.... 06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBB
01MAY44 Allotted 3 CU ex 7 AD for use by Radio Physics Laboratory.
12AUG44 Allocated for use by AOC Eastern Area.
16JUL45 Allotted 1 OTU ex 2 AD.
[See VH-BDN]
A16-120
VH-RBC		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
04SEP43 Proceeding Ward's Strip, New Guinea for use by General Blamey.
18NOV43 Allotted 1 CU for use by CAS.
[See VH-SML]
A16-122
VH-RBD		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBD.
14MAR44 Crashed.
[See VH-AGX]
A16-124
VH-RBE		 01SEP43 Allotted 7 AD ex 37 SQN for transport conversion.
.... 13OCT43 Allotted 38 SQN ex 7 AD.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBE.
23DEC44 Allotted 2 AD for movement of cylinder heads.
08SEP45 Allotted 1 CU ex 2 AD for VIP use.
A16-131
VH-RBF		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
..... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBF.
29MAR44 Allotted 2 AD.
20APR44 Allotment to 38 SQN cancelled (retrospectively).
16AUG44 Allotted 1 OTU ex 2 AD.
A16-134
VH-RBG		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBG.
03JUN44 Allotted 1 OTU ex 38 SQN.
A16-147
VH-RBH		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
..... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
12NOV43 Allotted 1 CU in lieu of 38 SQN for use by CAS.
10DEC43 Allotted 38 SQN.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBH.
14JUN44 Allotted 1 OTU.
[See VH-BIH]
A16-148
VH-RBI		 24AUG43 Allotted 7 AD ex 6 SQN for transport conversion.
... 24AUG43 Allotted 38 SQN on completion.
06JAN44 Allocated call sign VH-RBI.
14JUN44 Allotted 1 OTU ex 38 SQN.
A16-???
VH-RBL 		24FEB44 Flew Batchelor-Gove-Batchelor with freight. (Source: 56OBU A50)
A16-???
VH-RBN 		15MAR44 Flew Batchelor-Gove-Batchelor with personnel for an 83SQN court martial. (Source: 56OBU A50)
A16-???
VH-RBR 		26FEB44 Flew Batchelor-Gove-Millingimbi-Batchelor with personnel. (Source: 56OBU A50)


All of the transport Hudsons, with the exception of A16-124 (37 SQN), were drawn from 6 SQN and most were allotted initially to 38 SQN at Richmond, NSW. (These common allotments are highlighted in blue). All were modified at 7 AD at Tocumwal, NSW. On completion of their transport duties, the majority were allotted to 1 OTU at East Sale, VIC.

It should be noted that the above table uses dates of allotment as opposed to dates of receipt. This is to facilitate the identification of patterns in the histories of the Hudson transports.

 

Hudsons Processed Through
No 7 Aircraft Depot, Tocumwal

 

Date
Serial
Remarks
SEP43
 A16-114, 143 Completed overhaul. (114 to 1OTU, 143 to 1AD)
NOV43
 (not specified) Converted 3 Hudsons to transports.
DEC43
 A16-116, 120 Completed overhaul & despatch. (116 to 4CU, 120 to 1CU)
JAN44
 A16-222 Completed overhaul & despatch. (to 1OTU)
FEB44
 A16-148 Completed overhaul & despatch. (to 38SQN)
MAR44
 (not specified) Completed overhaul & despatch of 3 Hudsons.
APR44
 A16-47 Despatched. (to 1OTU)
APR44
 A16-88, 98 Reallotted 2AD. (88 & 98 recd 08APR44)
APR44
 A16-118 Despatched to 4CU. (Recd 07APR44)
APR44
 A16-102 To salvage. (Approved for conversion to components at 7AD 28MAR44)
MAY44
 A16-116, 115 Despatched. (116 to 4CU, 115 to 3CU)
MAY44
 A16-149, 131, 30,113 Reallotted 2AD.
JUN44
 A16-155 Despatched. (to 1OTU)
JUL44
 A16-120 Despatched. (to 1CU)
AUG44
 A16-22, 114 Despatched. (both to 1CU)
AUG44
 A16-16 Reallotted 2AD. (Recd 19AUG44)
AUG44
 A16-26, 25, 34, 99 Allotted 7CRD for conversion to components.
There were no further Hudson movements through 7AD.
Known freighter conversions are highlighted in red. Clearly 7AD was overhauling Hudsons for various units and not all movements related to freighter conversions. The receiving unit shown in brackets was derived from the aircraft status card.

Source: RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book]
Aircraft Depots 4-7 May 42 - Jul 47, Series number A9186



Issue Date Remarks
4 29DEC21
Added a table of Hudsons that passed through 7AD at Tocumwal in an attempt to identify further transport conversions. Apart from establishing that three unidentified Hudsons were converted to transports in November 1943, the exercise was inconclusive.
3 28DEC21
Added VH-RBL, RBN & RBR althought the aircraft are otherwise unidentified. Thanks to Phil Herdman.
2 08JUN98 -





Return to the Hudson Menu

Return to The Lockheed File